Daddy Dearest,

I was a mere three years old, and you asked me to accompany you to a Business event of sorts. I was in an all too itchy white dress, and I wouldn't stop complaining. Sweat in the form of liquid beads beat down on us like a drum. My tiny hand shielded my eyes from the scorching sun and my other hand wrapped around your pointer finger, as you led us through the meandering streets of New York City. I looked up to you with my big brown eyes, and you reassured me with a tight squeeze. I remember constantly being by your side, even from a young age like that. I gripped onto your pointer finger for dear life, knowing that you'd never lead me astray. I know that to this day as well.

A father teaches his daughter many lessons. One incredibly crucial one you have taught me, is that I deserve the best sort of love in this life, and that I shouldn't accept anything less than that. I have countless memories of you tucking me in before bed with a swift kiss to the forehead, making breakfast on Sunday mornings, and watching movies you hated yet I loved. I remember how you used to color in my endless coloring books with me, and you used to let me put pink barrettes in your hair because I always complained that I didn't have a sister to play with. I remember it all, you've spoiled me from the beginning, and it's never stopped. Significant memories like these are treasured in the heart of a daughter forever.

As the years have gone on, I've leaned on you more often than not. You played the role of personal chauffeur for my friends and I, always disregarding the amount of gas remaining in your car’s tank. I've relied on you to stay up with me until the oddest hours of the night while I ripped my hair out from studying or doing homework. You have sang at the top of your lungs with me on car rides, patted my back when I wasn't feeling well. You’ve made me laugh when some irrelevant drama made me cry. You've laid with me through the worst nightmares, and sat with me through the best memories. I know it has been agonizing at times, but I also know deep down that you value these moments we've shared, like I do. You've been there for it all, as you've raised me and watched me mature firsthand.

The lessons you've taught me over the course of this crazy journey could fill up the entirety of a novel, and I'm lucky that I've had you with me every step of the way. You've taught me that while life may get hectic; work will always be there, but family is a priority. You've shown me how a female should be treated, and that love is the most important thing. You never babied me, and you taught me that sometimes in life, there will be obstacles. You've found my strengths and highlighted them so I could see them more clearly, and you yanked out my weaknesses so I could learn to benefit from them. You made sure I always knew I would be successful, even if I felt like I was failing at the time. You've been more than a role model, you've been an inspiration.

You are truly the most influential person in my life, and I hope to God that I have inherited some of the lovely qualities you possess. Your inherent honesty, humble nature, trustworthiness, and ability to shrug any bad situation off. Your incessant sense of humor and ability to defuse the tension in any room, your fabulous fashion sense, and ability to forgive. There are so many positive traits under your belt, but the one I desire more than any other is your ability to love, and love unconditionally. Your big heart is constantly expanding, as you welcome strangers with open arms. It's something I have always wanted to be able to do, and I know that with practice I can learn it from you.

You've always been my best friend, the first man I have ever loved, and the ever present back-bone that keeps me standing straight. An immense amount of gratification for the sacrifices you have always made to keep a smile on my face. Thank you for always being my biggest fan, and cheering from the seats every time I'm performing on stage or getting an award. I know that you always say how proud you are to have me as your daughter, but I would like you to know that I am even prouder to have you as my dad.

I love you more than you can imagine, old man. Keep inspiring the world.