To my parents, my biggest supporters,

I've tried to find the words to thank you, but I just can't seem to get the right ones. I've tried to write this thank you multiple times, so let's see where this one takes me.

I don't really know if you've noticed, but I see how hard you guys work. Sometimes I feel so guilty for it. I see the few hours you sleep and the wear and tear on your bodies from how hard you work, and all I can currently do is study. That's all I can seem to do for the next four year; work hard to get my diploma, just as hard as you have worked to get me here. Sometimes I wonder if it is all worth it, but I think it is. It will all pay off because one day I will not only have my diploma but I will achieve my goals. From there, all my hard work can repay you for all of yours.

I miss you guys a whole lot when I'm at school. I have always known that I would, but I guess it's different knowing something versus actually experiencing it. It is a strange new world out here. Everything moves so much faster, as if I actually need to be told to catch my breath. I never realized how much time passes, and how much actually can't be accomplished in a day no matter how much you want it to be, primarily because what you want and what you need to do have a much bigger line in between them. Which brings me to my point; how did you manage to do all that you do, and make time to take us on vacations, or make it to nearly every game, school event, or party we have? I feel like I barely have time to even make it to the gym. I don't know how you guys do it.

I was so excited to graduate from high school and to begin the next chapter of my life. However, I was not excited to leave you guys so soon. Sometimes I wish I didn't leave home, but I know I had to. It is kind of hard to think about without getting upset. I wish that when things got rough, I could just go to you to hold me like when I was home, because sometimes a phone call is not enough. However, I have also learned that where you want to be and where you need to be are two different things. Sometimes I wish mom was making fried chicken to wake me up on a Saturday morning, or dad's motorcycle not starting at one of my horse shows again. Sometimes I wish it was learning how to drive all over again, or the family vacations to the lake. But I know that being here at school is where I need to be. Not many schools offer my major, and not many offer it to this extent. Getting an education is necessary in my case, as well as being where I am. College will shape me into the person I am supposed to be, just like you have told me for so long. But, on the bright side, your time is done when it comes to raising me. You have done everything you can when it comes to molding me; now it will just call for guiding me every now and then. You don't have to take the blame if I screw up and you don't have to make extra food! There are a lot of good things about me growing up, but that doesn't always hide the bad.

If it weren't for you signing me up for horseback riding lessons when I was seven, I would have never found my passion, which would have never led me to make the decision to attend a regional high school, which would have never led me to this college, in this dorm room, on this bed, writing this. I would not be an equine major, I would probably be lost in what to be; something animal related of course, but I wouldn't be so dead set on it. I wouldn't be me, if it weren't for you. I feel that is an obvious statement, however one that is not often said. No matter where I was destined to end up, I would still be grateful of you. So thank you. I love you. And I can't wait to see you.

I feel bad reflecting on the past, because I never really noticed until now just how much you two sacrificed. Sometimes I wish I can go back in the past and tell myself to be grateful for all that you do, because not everyone has parents like you. You have taught me so much, like how to always find something to be happy about. No matter what event I was at, you guys cheered the loudest, and even if I wasn't blue ribbon material that day, you found a way to make me feel like I was. You always managed to find success in even the biggest of failures. You would tell me it is something to learn from, or be excited that I still placed, even that it was my first time doing something, and I proved I could do it. Sometimes I wonder if eighteen years was enough. As you have taught me so much, I sometimes feel I have more to learn, but am quickly running out of time.

It's funny, I don't feel I am ready for college, and yet I am here doing it; I don't feel I am ready to leave the nest, but I have done that too. But I couldn't have done it without all of your support and pushing me into the right direction.

I love you so much, to the moon and the stars, and so much more.