“Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After 22 years of child-raising, they are unemployed.” – Erma Bombeck

Thank you. From the very bottom of my heart, thank you.

You have not only given me everything I have needed the last four years, but you prepared me for this moment. You gave me grace, poise, confidence, unwavering support, money, advice, a shoulder to cry on and most importantly, you gave me immeasurable love.

The last 22 years have been preparation for this day; the molding of the person that I would become once that tassel was moved to the other side and the president of the university puts that hard earned diploma in my hand. This day means as much for you as it does for me.

For all the nights that you received those frantic texts worrying about grades and rent and whatever disorder I thought I was suffering from that week; thank you for not telling me I’m a total nutcase and for talking me through my issues. Sometimes I wonder if you two are actually saints. Maybe I’ll file to have you canonized.

For all the times that I would randomly show up at your house to do my laundry or eat dinner or just to escape the craziness that was my current college life; thank you for not telling me I was too old to be acting that way. But really, thank you for the real home cooked meals, because dining hall food and Taco Bell only did so much for me.

For coming to all the family weekends that Bellarmine had and participating in all of the goofy events and eating as much free food as you could get your hands on, thank you for letting me share this new life with you.

For accepting my friends with open and loving arms. These are the people that have seen me through all-nighters, tears, bad grades, finals and trying to figure out who I am. Thank you for writing happy birthday on their Facebook walls, for letting them come over for dinner and for always asking how they’re doing. Thank you for loving them as much as I do.

For knowing when I tried my best, even when I felt like it wasn’t good enough. Thank you for being understanding and for knowing that sometimes my best will only get me so far and that perfection isn’t going to fall at my feet.

I never take the time to appreciate the things that you have done for me, and I am sorry that it has taken me 22 years to get to this point, but better late than never, right dad?

Dad, you are my hero. You’re the first person I want to share good news with and the last person I want to share the bad news with. You make my problems your problems, and I don’t know many parents who do that. You let me know that while I do deserve everything in the world, and you have had no problem giving me those things, that I still have to work for them; everything comes at a cost of sorts. No matter how many times I mess up, you are right there with the “I told you so” look, and with some advice to make it better for next time. You are the rock that has been my stepping stone through this journey and I know I could not have done any of this without your help and guidance. Thank you.

Mom, you are my best friend. You are the person that I share everything with, even some things that I’m sure you wish I hadn’t shared. You have never babied me or let me think that the world owes me anything; you instilled in me the idea that I am a fighter, and sometimes you have to fight your battles alone, and that’s OK. You gave me the courage and the poise to go after what I want without allowing others to get in my way. You have always called me your shining star, so hopefully I shine brightly enough someday that you can brag about the light that you helped create. You taught me that sometimes being the mean one, the ruthless one, isn’t always a bad thing – teaches you that failure is not option, it is simply a rock in the path of life. I could not have become the fearless headstrong woman that I am today without you. Thank you.

There are not enough ways to say thank you for what you have done for me. You’ve given me the world and I know that I will never be able to repay that in the way that you deserve, but hopefully the pride you feel when you think of all the things that you have helped me accomplish will be sufficient enough for now. I love you, thank you.