Growing up, no one could convince me that my parents were not the most extraordinary people in the world. At 19, my views on them still haven't changed. I'm even happy to be able to say that I never went through those angry teen years where I hated their guts. I definitely ended up luckier than most, with a set of parents who loved and supported me in everything I did.

To My Mom:

Thank you for being the most amazing mother in the world. I know that there are so many obvious ways in which I am like my father, which probably drives you crazy since you and Whitney have to have enough common sense for the four of us, but I like to think that you've shaped me into who I am more than anybody. You taught me to respect others, to not care what other people think about me, and, most importantly, to always brush my teeth. You showed me what it meant to love and care for your family so deeply. I credit you with giving me the amazing relationship that I have with everyone. I know you tend to be impressed when I willingly want to spend time with one of my grandparents, or when I don't want to leave the house because I'd rather be with Whitney, but you taught me that. I value family the way that I do and have the relationships that I have because you set such an excellent example. I look at the relationships you have with your parents and your sister and, most importantly, the relationship you had with your grandmother, and can only hope that I have that strong of a love and respect for my family as you do.

You could joke around all you want and say that you don't know where Whitney or I got our intelligence from, but it's pretty obvious that we turned out the way we did because of you. You were my first teacher, spending hours and hours of your time reading to me, and for that I will be eternally thankful. I don't think I'd ever have done so well in school without a mom like you. You also gave us experiences that some could only dream of. I love to travel and experience new things because of you. Thank you for giving me that gift.

I know that you've always told me that your job is to be my mom, and not my friend. I still would say that after Whitney, you are the person that I trust the most. I love you more than I will ever be able to tell you, and I hope you know that you have done an amazing job, and are still surprising me with how great you can be as each day passes.

To My Dad:

You've been my hero from the very beginning. I know I don't say it much, but I don't want you to ever worry that you're not doing a good job. You and I are very similar in how we stress and worry about letting people down. I don't think I'll ever be able to get it through your head that you are the best dad I could have ever asked for, and that you've never done anything to disappoint me.

I like to think that apart from your good looks I also got your sense of humor. I enjoy how you can make us all laugh with even the most terrible joke, and I like to think that you're the dad that invented the "dad joke." You've never failed at an attempt to make me smile when I'm upset, and I love you for it. All joking aside, I also believe that the reason I am so hardworking is because I had a role model like you.

I've always wanted to tell you, and never really have, that I think that you work harder than anybody I know and that you never get enough credit for it. So this is me giving my dad the credit he deserves. You've put a roof over our heads and food on the table for almost 20 years. I know that may sound like a total cliche, but in my mind, you are a huge success. You're managing to send me to school, put Whitney in a traveling softball league, spend your free time with my mom, visit with Grammy every week, and somehow go to and from Boston every day. You amaze me. I know that you tell me that you're proud to have a kid like me, but I want you to know that I love you and I'm proud to have a dad like you.