Finals are finally over, and I, like so many others, are rejoining my family to celebrate the holidays. Now that I'm back home for my last Christmas as an undergrad, I can't help but reflect on the many lessons I've learned from so many people in my life. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing these lessons with you all — from lessons I've learned from the occasional teacher to my best friends. 

This week, I'm sharing 20 lessons I've learned from the first man in my life, my dad. A dad is so many things: he's the ultimate Prince Charming, your hero, your buddy, your coach, your tutor, your rock, and it turns out, he's a pretty good teacher too. So when you see your dads this Christmas, be sure to give them big hugs around the neck and a sincere thanks for teaching you your own lessons!

1. Stop when you want just a little more. 

It doesn’t matter if it’s pie or a vacation, it’s always best to leave when you’re not 100% satisfied, that way you’ll always be thankful for going/eating/doing it again. 

2. Don’t make decisions when you’re angry. 

Much like the adage of "don't go to bed angry," this means that in any kind of relationship —romantic or otherwise — it's best to make decisions once you're calm and level headed. That way, when the decisions are made, you've thought them out logically, and (hopefully) from all perspectives. 

3. Be better than your parents.

If you believe this, then it stands to reason that your children will start off with more than you did, and therefore, they should accomplish more than you accomplished. In the Malueg household, that's the true measure of success. 

4. Running fixes everything.

Feel sick? Angry? Sad? Go for a run (or just spend some time outside). As much as I hate this, it's generally true. I always feel better after a run, and my allergies (or my cold) always calms own after I've spent some time in the front yard, much to my chagrin.

5. Hard-work is always better than intelligence.     

You can be the smartest person in the world, but intelligence alone won't get you anywhere. You need dedication and work to facilitate that intelligence into some tangible final product.  

6. Do a little something to better yourself every day, even if it’s just 5 minutes.   

Maybe it’s going for a jog, maybe it’s 10 pushups, maybe it’s tanning, or maybe it’s just some quiet time. Those little decisions add up.  

7. Go out of your way to be nice to the secretary. He/she has a tedious job. 

Be thankful for his/her service and kind smile every morning; plus, the secretary holds a good bit of power, and you never know when you’ll need his/her help.  

8. Show up when your people need you.   

This is one of the best ways to show you care about someone. There's nothing better than feeling the love and support of your friends and family on an important day. Sometimes that day is a celebration, like a birthday or graduation, and sometimes that day simply is a day when you need help doing something — such as moving out or decorating the church for a wedding. 

9. Do not feel compelled to text people back immediately.      

Your initial response will probably be become emotionally enmeshed and won’t convey your meaning clearly. Sometimes it’s best to wait; your time will come. 

10. Go all out.  

Wear that neon pink dress. Dance like Taylor Swift. Dye your hair purple. Make the crazy decision. Sometimes it’ll be the best thing you ever did, and if not, it’ll be a great story later.       

11. Laugh at yourself.

People appreciate a person with a good sense of humor, even when that person makes an inconvenient mistake.  

12. Office hours are important. 

Face-time! Face-time! Face-time! The more a teacher knows your face and name, the more likely you'll develop a relationship with that teacher that could help with understanding subject matter or "bumping you up" a few points on a test. 

13. Give all of yourself, whether it’s mowing the lawn or writing a report. 

Take pride in every single task you complete. As insignificant as, say, cleaning your room is, that action has your name attached to it, and it represents you. Therefore, you should represent yourself as best you can. 

14. Our family is unbreakable. 

Our home is a safe-zone. Our family is a team. Our bond is unbreakable. We can do anything when we are doing it together. 

15. I’m valuable.  

I'm important, special, and worth it. That's so important to know. I hope that every single one of you reading this knows that you are important, and special, and worth whatever "it" may be. You should value yourself, because if you don't, who else will? 

16. Humor accomplishes more than complaints.  

People respond to positive remarks. Humor is a great way to communicate your meaning without it coming off as confrontational. 

17. Never let yourself be disrespected. 

That means by friends, teachers, or even family members. If you think you're being disrespected, that needs to be communicated. If it continues, then leave. You are too valuable (#15) to allow yourself to be continually disrespected.

18. Don’t forget to have fun.  

In college (or even at work), it can be easy to forget to go out to the parties or spend time with friends when you're faced with endless mountains of homework and maintaining scholarship GPAs. You've got to remember to go out and enjoy yourself. This is the only time when it's still acceptable and you're old enough to do it.  

19. When your heart feels like it’s breaking, you’re growing, and that’s good. 

Pain is for the best. Think about lifting weights. It hurts, but you're growing muscle. Emotional pain is the same way. Break ups, friend drama, all these things are opportunities for growth. The more you hurt, the more you're growing. The more you're growing, the more you'll learn, and the more you learn, the less likely you'll find yourself in the same position.

20. Love. Love with 150% of your heart.

Even in the face of uncertainty, love is the best feeling in the world. It makes you think all things are possible, and with love, who knows, they might be. The important thing to remember about this "lesson" is that people need to know that you love them. They need to know that you value them. That's an essential part of any relationship.