I never truly appreciated my parents until I came to college. Sure, I "appreciated" them, but I never realized how much they impacted me until I moved to L.A. . There are so many things my parents taught me without really teaching me. Here are a few things I've learned that I think would benefit every college student out there.

Mom, thank you for making me do my own laundry.

I don't remember a time where my mom ever did my laundry. Sure, when I was young she had to, but for as long as I can remember, she always made me and my brother take on that responsibility. As we grew older, that became normal and just another part of our weekly routine. In fact, we learned to enjoy the responsibility (at least I did). I'm grateful for this because coming to college and having to take on that responsibility, wasn't anything new or different than what I was already doing. I meet college students that don't know how to use a washer or drier and it's hard for me to understand that because of the way I grew up. I understand and respect that everybody's family and home life is different, and having your mom (or dad) do your laundry is fine, but I'm personally thankful for my mother's constant push to do this chore independently.

It's not just about the chore. Because of this, I've learned about self-discipline and self- motivation which comes in handy when Netflix is tantalizing me as I avoid eye contact with my textbooks (I think all college students can relate). We don't have someone telling us "Hey, make sure to do your laundry at this time and then make sure you finish your homework at this time, because then you'll have time to clean up your dishes before bed." We have to be self-motivators if we ever want to succeed in life, and that's the harsh reality of it; we must push ourselves (even if we procrastinate for 20 minutes beforehand).

Dad, thank you for teaching me what "balance" really is.

My dad is one of the hardest working people I know. I've never seen a person handle stress and all other elements of life so well. I know my dad's job can be stressful, but I think back to when my brother and I still lived at home: The moment my dad's brown loafers walked through the door around 6 pm, while mom made dinner and my brother and I set the table, he had a smile on his face and greeted my mom with a kiss. He never failed to ask about all of our day's, even when we forgot to ask about his. My dad's incredible; he always keeps a positive attitude and ensures all of us are O.K.

I admire his ability to balance this crazy life, and I hope we can all inherit that trait someday. Balancing everything that's thrown at us doesn't come naturally to most, but I believe it's something worth practicing for our own future and well- being.

Mom, thank you for teaching me that it's more than okay to cry.

Throughout high school especially, I tried to hold in every awful thing I was feeling or going through, like most teenagers do. For some reason, I never wanted my mom to think there was something wrong. Because moms know everything, she would always end up pulling out whatever was bothering me, which ended up with me completely breaking down in her arms. Because of the constant support and warmth my mom gave me, I decided that, you know what, it's okay to cry and to be sad and let people know about it. I wouldn't have come to this conclusion if she hadn't been there comforting me while I cried over some boy or silly school project.

I love when people open up to me and let their walls down. I find that it's an incredible feeling when you can be there for someone and comfort them. What does being closed up and cold get us? Being kind and gentle in a world that tries to make us hard is difficult, is refreshing and important. Sure, it's easy to be standoffish and we may not get hurt as much, but we're humans and supposed to feel and let others openly feel in front of us. Vulnerability attracts honesty. Honesty attracts soul connections.

Dad, thank - you for setting the standard for how a guy should treat me.

My dad has always treated my mother and I with the utmost respect. He's incredibly patient with us, kind, and understanding. Whenever I pursue a relationship with a guy, I always ask myself, "Does he have the same traits as my father?" My dad expresses generosity beyond compare and has never ever failed to provide our family with all that we need and more, and that's not just regarding finances. I want the man I marry to possess the same traits as my father, because then I'll know 100% that I will be in good hands and so will my family (reminder: this is referring to the far away future. Dad, I'm still your little girl).

I think all young women should consider the relationship with their father when pursuing a serious relationship. Whether the relationship with your father is non-existent or amazing, it's something us women can learn from; the way your father acts and treats us impacts our choices and relationships more than we think.

Moms and dads are incredible people, and sometimes we don't take the time to truly appreciate all that they do for us and teach us.