We all have someone to thank for everything we have. It doesn't matter how hard we personally have worked in our life, someone somewhere along the way has helped us. Whether it was a teacher who supported us long after we left their classroom, a grandparent who has always been our greatest encourager, or our parents who never stopped rooting for us; it's about time we send a thank you. So this one goes out to you, mom and dad. Thank you for helping me achieve everything up until this point in my life, and a thousand more thank you's for everything you will do in the future.
Thank you for working long hours, weekends, and sometimes crappy jobs to get me to my dream school.
I know how much you have sacrificed for me to attend the university of my dreams. Every time you have picked up extra shifts, stayed late at night, and brought your work home with you, you were doing me a favor I can never repay you for. Not only have you inspired me to work just as hard as you always have, you have paved a pathway for me to make my own mark on the world.
Thank you for being patient as I tried (and quit) a thousand different activities.
Whether it was karate in kindergarten, or my brief membership to Destination Imagination, you have always supported my passions. I know it must have been frustrating, signing me up for activities and spending money on clubs you knew I'd be done with in a few months. But it truly helped me explore who I am and find what I'm good at.
Thank you for allowing me to follow my passions, even when they scared you.
Who would've guessed that through all of the different things I tried out, it would be playing on the lacrosse team that stuck-- the boys lacrosse team, nonetheless. We don't share all of the same passions, and I know that sometimes all you can see is the danger in what I've chosen, but thank you for having my back anyways. Thank you for letting me bruise my knees and get roughed up a little bit, and thank you for letting me learn how to be safe on my own.
Thank you for cheering me on in every sporting event, band concert, school play, etc.
Whether I was sitting on the bench or scoring all the goals, I knew I could look out into the crowd and see your face there to cheer me on. Thank you for giving up birthdays, weekends, and holidays if I had a conflict. Thank you for sacrificing your own free time to support me in mine.
Thank you for always encouraging me to form my own opinions.
I'm stubborn and strong-willed, and you have always encouraged those pieces of me. Whether it was 10-year-old me deciding to be a vegetarian, or 17-year-old me deciding to lobby at the state Capitol, I always knew you would have my back. Even when we were disagreeing, I knew you would get me the resources I needed to form educated opinions, and fight for those ideals.
Thank you for always taking my phone calls.
Whether I needed money, advice, a rant session, or I just missed hearing your voice. I know that I can always call, and at least one of you will answer. College student or not, sometimes we all just need to talk to mom or dad.
Thank you for pressuring me to work hard at school from kindergarten through now.
Weekly at-home spelling tests, 24/7 homework help, and occasional negative consequences are the reasons I have been succeeding in college so far. While third grade me might not have appreciated the nagging about homework and studying, college me sure does.
And finally, thank you for always being the best role models, even when I had trouble seeing it.
Whenever I feel lost or don't know how to react to a situation, I can always just think "What would mom or dad do?" and suddenly I don't feel as lost anymore.
You were there for me throughout my whole life (including my seventh grade emo phase), and for that, I will never be able to thank you enough. I hope this letter helps to express some of my gratitude towards you, and I hope this letter encourages others to reach out and thank the people who have given them everything.
