College is a tricky road to follow. Some people say it’s the best four years of your life, but for some of us, it involves immense amount of stress and anxiety on a daily basis. I am hard on myself and have always focused on school, so college has been a source of many tears.
Two of my biggest supporters, my parents, have always been a combination of tough love and tender care. Some of the best advice I’ve ever received is just to breathe and not cry. It seems dumb, but coming from people who I know love me so deeply, it holds so much meaning. Sometimes you just need a person you love to tell you they understand, that you’re not crazy for being upset and that everything will get better.
In some of my lowest points in college, I have been able to lean on my parents from miles away through it all. I’m lucky to have two people in my life who are willing to pick me up and be a steady support system. I have an immense amount of respect for my parents and they show me the same respect.
This all isn’t to say we still don’t fight, because let me tell you: we fight. I come from a strong, stubborn family who speak our minds. But this is to say I understand my parents better than I ever have before. I recognize the amount of time they have poured into me for 21 years and the amount they will continue to pour into me as I graduate and start my life.
Now for some specifics.
Mom, thank you for calling me even when I don’t want to talk. You have a way of knowing when I need you and when I’m on the verge of another breakdown. Your love is immense and I thank you for listening to me complain about the same things over and over again. Thank you for telling me not to worry about things and for telling me you’ll take care of something I could do on my own. Thank you for your day trips to Charleston and for being my friend.
Dad, thank you for listening to me, too. But thank you also for telling me about the newest NPR article you heard to take my mind off things. Thank you for praying over the phone with me and for never passing judgment on my miniscule worries. You may be too smart for your own good, but you are the source of my nerdiness and my passion for what I love. Thank you for having heated discussions with me and loving me for all I am.
Without my parents, I wouldn’t be in college. I wouldn’t be an actor. I wouldn’t be the confident person I am now. They have encouraged me to never let my dreams go and to always love people, despite the wrong they may do against me. I love you both with all my heart. Thank you for getting me through the past four years of college and for just being you. I can’t wait to see you next week and celebrate all we’ve accomplished (yes, we!).
