My whole life I have been an athlete. I've truly done it all, from cheerleading to golf to basketball. I am familiar with hectic practice schedules and coming home tired with still a lot to get done. It's such a great feeling after a win, but I also know my fair share of losses and how tough it can be on someone, especially in a big game or match. It always seemed to me that no matter if it was a win or loss, I seemed to always be getting critiques from my dad. It frustrated me that I had not finished even my best game with something that made him happy.

Now that I live away from home and I don't have my dad with me every day, I want to say thank you to the man that put so much faith in me and my dreams and I could not have realized that until now. Thank you so much for critiquing me after every game or match. I know you were just trying to make me better and push me to be better at my sport. Thank you for watching me in any kind of weather out there that day. I couldn't imagine going to a game and not seeing your face in the crowd or knowing it was your voice screaming from the bleachers and yes it is always screaming. Thank you for always giving me the option to follow through or quit but always nudging me to follow through because you knew what it would do for me. I would have regretted quitting anything I had started but you helped me stick with it. Thank you for helping me achieve my dreams because I feel like you did some of the work for me.

To my dad, my biggest fan, and greatest supporter, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, for giving me the tools I need to succeed in life. You have pushed me and sent me in the right path for my life to be easy for me. You have given me parts of you that I never saw being given but now I know they are instilled in me and the way I work. You have given me every tool on the journey to becoming my full self.

Thanks to all the dads who inspire, help, and push their children to reach their goals whether it is on a field or in a classroom or on a stage. Dads give us the courage to move on with our lives and become someone they can be proud of. Thank you to dads everywhere.