Dear Dad,

Did you really think that I would forget about you during Father’s Day week? Yes, we may be thousands of miles apart, but distance means nothing when you have a family as strong as ours. I know that seeing your kids grow up can’t be easy, but I thought this week I’d use my article post to say thank you to you and all the dads that work so hard to ensure that their kids can always be happy and safe.

This cannot be an easy job, parenting that is. I can’t even imagine the countless hours y’all spend worrying and praying that we will be safe. Nonetheless, I must commend you for doing one heck of a job. Being a dad to a little girl is probably as hard as rocket science, or maybe even a little more difficult. I know that I was never the easiest to put up with, especially through the pre-teen years, but you never gave up on me. Sure we don’t always agree, but who does?

You have always been such an amazing role model and I feel so lucky to have been heavily influenced by such a motivating and caring person. Dad, you have always been there for me and I hope that you know that your kindness did not go unnoticed. You were my coach, my running buddy, my personal life advisor, and so much more. I look back on everything that I have accomplished and I know that I wouldn’t have been so ambitious if you had not believed in me. I always think back to the funny memories that we have had together and start to smile, especially those days in high school sports. I will never forget my first varsity cross-country meet my freshman year where you practically ran the entire course because you didn’t want me to give up. We went to regionals that year and I owe it all to you. You are by far the best coach that I have ever had and you had no prior training. From soccer games to track meets, I always knew that I could look to the stands and hear you coaching from the sideline. Even when I thought it was all over because of my ACL tear you pushed me to not give up on something that I love. Here I am, 10 months later, playing every week and anxiously waiting for my senior year of collegiate soccer to begin.

You have always preached that we, Brother and I, needed to better than you. College wasn’t an option when you were growing up, but you made sure that we were able to have an education. I was never the smartest, but you taught me the value of hard work and dedication. Somehow you always help me see the light at the end of the tunnel and that has come in handy so much in life. Has school been easy? Absolutely not. But you never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself. It’s so awesome to see where all of these countless hours of perseverance have gotten me. Dad! I am in DC working at NIST and it’s because you believed in me. I know that it’s probably so hard to know that I am not just a short drive away, but I want you to know that I appreciate that you understand how important these experiences are to me.

I hope that I have made you proud, Dad, and that I am living up to all of your expectations. Know that even if we fight or disagree, you will always be one of the most important people in my life. I will never be able to pay you back for everything that you have done, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t continue to try. You’re the best dad and I can’t wait to see you soon!

Love Always,

Your Little Girl