One of the things in my life that goes unnoticed every so often is the kindness of my parents. Whether I was at school, on the tennis courts, or on stage, they’ve not only pushed me to achieve my fullest potential but also performed little kindnesses along the way that nudged me into success.

On late nights, when I’m working on two calculus problem sets while finishing up a civics project and studying for a macro quiz after coming home from a tennis tournament, my mom always stops by to place a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a healthy snack on the desk. My dad pops in every hour to see if I need any help or if I’ve passed out on the desk, pen in hand, mouth open (yes, it’s happened). Occasionally I may overlook these thoughtful acts when stressed or tired but I definitely value them and I’m grateful to my parents for showing their quiet support.

Another example is their support for my tennis career. The night before a match, my parents force me to go to bed early so that I’m well-rested for the following day. My mom packs a healthy lunch with plenty of water to keep me hydrated throughout the day – I’m talking a full cooler of ice-cold bottle after bottle. Whenever they can, my parents show up for my matches to cheer me on, whether I’m winning or losing.

But the place where the gentle support really pushed me was when I was performing vocal Carnatic music on stage. My parents recognized my potential when I was four and put me in lessons for music with a local teacher. Even after we moved two hours away from the teacher, my dad drove me once a week to her house just for the lesson – for almost two years. When the time came to perform my first solo concert at the age of 11, I was terrified and broke down in tears the night before – after performing on stage for nearly six years! Still, my parents calmed me down and assuaged all my fears about the following day, on which all the horror scenarios I had thought of didn’t in fact happen. At the time I was too distraught about my impending doom to think about how kind it was for them to calm me down rather than just tell me to stop being silly.

As teenagers, and even as adults, we forget about the little kindnesses that our parents do for us on a daily basis. Sure, we thank them for it on Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day, but giving thanks should be a part of life. So, Mom and Dad, here’s to the sniffles, sprains, and sleepless nights you’ve pulled me through – I couldn’t be more grateful.