To my mom, who gave up her dreams just so I could live out mine, I am forever grateful for you.

Being a single parent is a challenge that no one can truly understand until they are in that situation. My dad died twelve years ago, leaving behind my two sisters and I. This left my mom in a place to support a toddler, a 7-year old, and a teenager all on her own.

My sisters and I had big dreams, but what was going to happen now that we were on our own? Those dreams didn't change, because my mom would not let that happen. Yes, we went through something tragic and it did take a long time to heal those wounds. But, she wasn't going to let our tragedy define us and take our dreams with it.

She sacrificed her educational goals, her fitness goals, her dreams to travel, her hobbies, and her free time just so we didn't have to stop doing the things we loved. She took on multiple jobs at a time so that the 3 of us could continue competitive dancing. Were we going to be professional dancers one day? Probably not. But, we loved it and it was our passion. To her, that's all that mattered. So long as it kept us happy and kept our passions lit, she was going to do whatever it took so that we could continue on.

I know she was tired, stressed, and defeated a lot of days. I know that no matter how hard she worked, bills were hard to pay. But, she wouldn't let us think for a second that these hardships were a reason to give-up. She would always say "We're a team and we will figure it out together."

She is the reason I am where I am today. Why I am able to go to college, why I am able to travel to places, and why I have been able to follow through on my dreams, no matter how big they are.

She didn't have to make these sacrifices, but she wouldn't have it any other way. I can never re-pay her, but I am going to work my hardest to try and give her the best life because that's what she did for me.

There are not enough words in the world that can describe how grateful I am for you. You have taught me what motherly unconditional love looks like, and I can only hope to be as great of a mother as you someday.