In third grade, I left my beloved Catholic school to attend the local public school. At first glance, I thought everyone was spoiled. The girls all wore Justice and Limited Too, and I walked around in clothes from Kohls. Oppositely, I loved all things involving punk music and Sponegbob, so naturally, I didn't fit in. The area I grew up in was a little above middle class, but by the way, the kids acted, you would think I lived right outside Beverly Hills.

As I got older, the girls only seemed to get prettier. I was overweight and dressed "emo." I tried to be normal, I even begged my parents to buy me a Juicy Couture tracksuit. At the time, they told me what a rip off it was. My Father made it clear that he could buy me anything I wanted, however, but it wouldn't make me a better person.

As I got older, I started to realize that my parents were absolutely right. I didn't wake up to a brand-new car on my sixteenth birthday, instead, I was gifted the family mini-van after my parents bought themselves new cars. I spent my weekends working at a local restaurant to save for college, and I even offered to commute my first year because I knew that I needed to attend graduate school in order to have my dream job.

I didn't get to attended my "dream school" in Florida, and it isn't because my parents "couldn't afford it," but rather that they shouldn't have to. It was made obvious that my education was my responsibility. My parents mainly paid my way, but I helped out when I could because it was what was right. Let's be clear that they weren't asking me to hand them my tips at the end of the night.

Now, as I'm entering my junior year of college, I'm living on Campus debt free and not a lot of people can say that. Sure, I missed "living my best life" in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic last spring break, but I know I will not start my career drowning in debt.

So, to my mom and dad, thank you for choosing to invest in my education over my appearance. Thank you for teaching me how to be a genuine person who can make anything work, You helped me start a life that not many other people get to live.

You also helped me realize that I never needed that tracksuit to begin with.