I have grown up believing in the notion that family wasn't limited to your blood relatives. I grew up calling my parents closest friends by the title of "auntie" or "uncle". While I love my biological family, and will always be immeasurably thankful for their love and support, many people limit their definitions of family to those whom they share blood with. I choose to expand my definition of family.

"Family" to me, is defined as those people closest to you, who provide you with unconditional love and support, who are there in the best of times and in the worst of times. Family means so much more to me than just a biological connection. Family can extend to your friends, your neighbors, your teachers, anyone who truly impacts you in an important way.

To these people I consider family, thank you. Thank you for choosing me as family. Thank you for believing in me and thank you for always supporting me. Your love and support mean the world to me. I hope to always make you proud. This may go without saying, but despite us not being "blood related," you are family, you are everything that it means to be family. While I consider my family a blend of people both biologically related to me and some that are not, each and every one of these relationships has helped me become who I am today. I am without words, I am eternally grateful.

Thank you, I love you.

XO