Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you for raising me the way you did. You have taught me so much in these 20 years of life. From tying my shoes to teaching me how to write a resume. I have learned to be kind and considerate to everyone, even when it can be hard too do so. As the old saying goes, "to treat people the way, you would want to be treated." You showed me how to be friend, by being my first friends. I appreciate everything you have done for me. And, I know you will continue to share your wisdom and life lessons with me forever.

You are always pushing me to achieve. I will never be able to thank you all enough for always believing in me every step of the way. Also, you never let me give up on my dreams, no matter what it is. I owe so much to you because you always made me feel like I could do anything I set my mind too. I remember being 8 years old and saying "I want to be a teacher like mom and I want to cut hair during the summer" or the time I wanted to be a veterinarian.You didn't make me feel silly for wanting to aspire to those careers. You have always made me feel like I could do anything, that the possibilities were endless.

I appreciate you letting me try practically every sport in existence until I found one that I loved. I remember you both driving me to ballet, softball, and basketball, the list of sports I tried were endless. You let me figure out that I liked golf and that I did not like soccer. I choose what I wanted to do. You allowed me to make my own choices and be my own person, even when I was too young to realize it. And, I am truly grateful for all those countless hours of you spent coaching me, trying to help me get better (at the sport I loved at the moment). We would work on things until I could hit every free throw or make every putt. I know after a long day a work, it was not easy but you did it anyways. Thank you.

Most importantly, thank you for showing me that success requires hard work. In the real world, nothing is just given to you, that you have to work for the things you want. You have provided me with so much and have never let me go without. But, at the same time, you have show me the value of money and taught me to appreciate all things in life. Thanks to you, I have always understood that money does not grow on trees.

I am so lucky to have you both, and could never ask for better parents. Thank you for making me who I am today, for always believing in me, and for being my biggest supporters. I strive to make you proud everyday, because you have done so much for me. I love you.

Love,

Your Daughter