Ever since I was around the age of six, my father always told me to never be afraid to explore the world. I have always known that all my dad wants is for his kids to have everything he wasn't able to have. When my dad was young, he never had a gameboy, new clothes, or even had enough to eat. My dad went to work everyday as soon as he got out of school. Some days he didn't go to school because he couldn't afford not to work. He would come home at two in the morning, exhausted, but everyday he woke up as soon as dawn hit. My dad worked his ass off for everything he has now. The poverty issues he endured made him the resilient and humble man he is today. When I was growing up, the material things meant nothing to me. I was just happy to spend every weekend with him and my cousin Jasmine. I really look up to him and it's not just because he is my father. He has been through a lot and he still wakes up every morning feeling blessed. My dad is everything I hope to be one day. I hope to be as wise as him when I become older. My dad is only thirty-five years-old. He has a heart of gold and the mind of a man who has lived a lifetime. He has taught me so much in such little time. Next year, I will be nineteen. I still have so much time ahead of me and plenty of conversations with my father. I never get bored of our talks, nor will I ever. I always look forward to talking to him because he gives me the best advice and only wants me to do better than he did. I dedicate this article to my father. I know things aren't the same and its tough to see your first child grow up so fast. I'm sorry that sometimes I wasn't the most behaved but what kid was. Thank you pa for all your stories. Thank you for all the nights you slept on the couch so I could sleep on the bed. Thank you for all your sacrifices. This is for you.