Dear Mom and Dad,

I just want to take a moment and tell you both how much I appreciate everything you’ve done over the years. From my first day at preschool, to starting college, horse competitions, modeling and now, Disney, you have been there to support me and cheer me on every step of the way. Of course, there were roadblocks, speed bumps and other various obstacles along the way, but we were able to overcome each and every one of them in some way. You just shook your heads the day I colored my hair pink and blue, and you eventually accepted the fact that I had a tattoo and was already planning more. I’m sorry that I don’t always call you guys, but thank you for understanding that life gets in the way sometimes. It doesn’t mean that I love you any less, just that I’m a little busy. I’m hoping that this letter reminds you of how grateful I am for the both of you.

With everything going on in the world right now, and the knowledge that anything can happen at any point in time, I’m always afraid that you don’t know how much I really do love you both or how glad I am that you’re both such a big part of my life. You’re there for me to cry to during a tornado watch, to complain to about the other kids in my class or even to just to say hi. I honestly can’t really think of a time when you weren’t there and I’m proud to say that I have a pretty good relationship with you both. You’re honestly my best friends, the ones I tell (almost) everything to.

Mom, thank you for taking care of me when I’m sick. Thank you for letting me ramble on about the things that I’m passionate about, even if you don’t really pay attention (it’s OK, I don’t blame you — I talk too much). Thank you for going to concerts and plays with me and only laughing a little when I cry because I’m so happy and overwhelmed. You work hard at your job, long days full of stress and intense emotions in the hospital, and then you come home to deal with the three of us and take on your job as “mom.” Even with all that responsibility and exhaustion, you still made every day special. Juice to wake us up in the morning, chocolate chip pancakes on your days off, laughing way too hard at some comment you made, every day made a different memory.

Dad, thank you for doing everything for my car. Thank you for being my horse buddy all those years, for teaching me how to work with them, and for showing them and gaining their respect. Thank you for going to "Star Trek" and "Captain America"with me and for being Team Cap. Deep down, you’re a giant nerd, don’t deny it. You would send me pictures of different episodes of "Star Trek"just to see if I knew them all. You helped me build my "Doctor Who"bookshelf and continuously made some casual reference to the show (or just repeated, “That doctor guy. Doctor Who. Is that Doctor Who?” even when you knew it was or wasn’t him). I’m heavily interested in politics and social issues because of you and your passion for them; I learned so much about it because of you. You taught me how to be strong and independent, which really helped me once I started living completely on my own.

You both have helped me, taught me, supported me and loved me so much that I know that you’ll both continue to be there for me no matter what may happen in the future or where life may take me. I know that I’m a better person today because of you and I’m so proud to call you my parents.