The first semester of my college career is now over and we have entered the blissful month of holiday break. Through the course of this first semester, there were several moments in which I thought I would just give up entirely and where stress had consumed me. I was, however, blessed with two supportive and incredible parents who helped me get through the breakdowns and stress that accumulated over these past five months.

Thank you for believing in me.

I've changed my mind one too many times on the path I want to take with my major — from journalism to medicine (because of an unhealthy obsession with "Grey's Anatomy") to finally figuring my life out and choosing to major in Information Systems and potentially minor in Computer Science. Although my passion has always been writing, you helped find an unexpected interest in IS and CS. Knowing I loved writing, you supported me in my decision to become a writer for Odyssey in order for me to still hold onto that writing side in my life, despite the fact you thought I may not have enough time for it.

Thank you for staying by my side.

I grew up with you two always saying the only people who would stick by my side for the rest of my life and who only want what's best for me are my parents and God. You were there for me those nights this semester when I was devastated and terribly homesick for my daily home-cooked Brazilian dinners and your company. You kept a strong front during those calls when I called to say I missed you and that my dorm would never feel like home when I knew you were just as, if not more, upset as me.

Thank you for being the best role models.

I know I say all the time that my favorite artists in bands have inspired me in a way others haven't and never will. That is true, but they inspire my artistic side — you, however, are who I look to for guidance. I want to be as strong as Mom and carefree as Dad. Thank you, Mom, for bringing out my studious, determined and ambitious self. Thank you Dad, for bringing out my lighthearted and music-crazed self. Thank you both, however, for keeping me grounded and making sure that I am becoming the best version of myself — something that I could never do without you two.

Thank you for loving me.

I know you've sacrificed so many things for me and my siblings, including moving to a foreign country and adapting to this strange foreign culture, and although I may not say it as much as I should, I am truly grateful for what you do for me. I know it's not easy when you have three kids in college and just how much and how quickly tuition money adds up, yet all the things you've given up have been so that my siblings and I have a happy and successful life.

I could never thank the both of you enough for what you've done for me and what you continue doing for me. I'll be forever thankful and my goal in life is to somehow show you how grateful I am for you, although I don't think there exists anything grand enough for me to give you that will represent my gratefulness other than loving you as much as you love me.