As the saying goes, no matter how far away from home you are, you will always need your parents guidance.

I sit here a week before Spring finals and Summer break and I constantly need a shoulder to lean on due to the amount of stress I am under. I just wish I could take a little trip home to get a hug from my parents and some words of advice, but assignments need to be finished and papers need to be written, swallowing up the only time I would have to make that visit. I do not want to text or call because I feel like that can become bothersome, other times that will gives way and the text gets sent.

It is currently Tuesday and countless tears have been shed this already. All-nighters in the library, late night trips to Wawa, and pure frustration do not call for a good combination. Four presentations in two days on Tuesday and Wednesday, two papers for one class due on Thursday, an article reading due Friday, and corrections for an almost twenty-page paper, final copy due next Tuesday - I can do this! Boy, was I wrong...

I always sit with the same library buddy and we work on our assignments, primarily our paper corrections. This friend, he has seen countless tears of defeat, Monday afternoon being one of these times. I finally admitted to myself, I need my parents. Proceeded with a text sent to my father.

That text, it was harsh. I admitted there was nothing left in me, all of my faith gone, and how badly I wanted to throw my hands up and quit everything. Side note - I also had a shift at work from 6 PM - 11:30 PM on Monday night. The most impactful parts of the text received in reply:

Your mom and me have all the faith in the world in you.

Remember I am with you through everything. I love you very much. Have faith in yourself.

I once again attempted to justify myself and the fact there was no faith left in me. Within the next hour, there was a call. It was my dad. I needed my dad's voice and reassurance.

God is always with you.

Here I start my day by killing one of my speeches and finalizing for another one. Regaining the strength and faith, I now know I can do this!

Thank you, mom and dad. Thank you for always picking up the phone and answering those texts. I know I hardly tell you this, but I am and will always be thankful for the unconditional love you both show me. You continue to lead me each day to become a better person than I was the day before.

Dad - Thank you for being the one to answer my texts no matter what time of the day it is; continuing to show me the true meaning of hard work day in and day out, and being the best dad a girl could as for. I pray that one day I find a man that has the same attitude to be my forever.

Mom - Thank you for showing me the tough love I need occasionally; teaching me new knowledge every day whether it is from cooking food to giving me life advice; and putting up with my sass by giving it right back. You have set such a great example of what a mother should be, I pray that one day I can be half of what you are.

I love you both much more than this article can hardly express.

Xoxo