Mom and Dad,

You have taught me so many things. What true love looks like; how to work hard and never give up; that it’s okay to be unmotivated to work out, and to never accept less than I deserve. You are the people I go to when it feels like the whole world is crashing down on me and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to survive. You pick me up, dust me off and tell me that as hard as it may be to keep going, you keep going.

The two of you have always pushed me to be my best without ever making me feel like I will never be enough for you or that there is too much pressure. You have taught me that the only expectations that I am required to live up to are those of my own. Because you know I’ll set the bar high for myself. And you know I’ll reach that bar.

Mom, you have shown me what it means to truly be a smart, confident, badass woman. You have taught me that not everybody looks the same and that is okay. That I am beautiful exactly the way I am and what matters most is that I am happy. You have taught me that when someone pushes you down, you get right back up and prove them wrong. Even though society tells me I can’t because I’m a girl, you say that’s the reason I can.

Whenever a boy breaks my heart and let’s be honest that happens a lot, you are the person I know I can talk to. I fall in lust with someone practically every day and you never make me feel bad about it when it doesn’t work out. You let me cry and talk about how I’ll be alone forever and then you wipe my tears and remind me why that won’t happen. And that if it does, it will be of my choosing, not because everyone else said no.

Dad, you have taught me that strength comes from within. Whether it be physical, mental, or emotional strength, it has to be something that comes from inside of you. You make me feel like I can do anything in the world. When school is kicking my butt and I feel like I’m drowning in work, you send me emails and texts about how capable I am. You tell me I can do whatever I put my mind to. And I believe it when it comes from you. You are the most encouraging person in my life and I don’t know if I would be where I am without you.

Thank you for always laughing at my jokes. It makes me feel like I should be a comedian even though I know you are the only one in the world who thinks I’m actually that funny. You remind me that I should never stop laughing, no matter how old I get or how much life drags me down. From you I have learned that there is always laughter in the world, you just have to know where to look for it.

To both of you, I feel like I owe everything. Regardless of the fact that I am in this world because of you two, it is the strength and courage you have taught me that has made me the woman I am today. I get scared every morning when I have to get up and try to conquer the day ahead. But you make me want to fight and you push me to be my best and for that, I am forever grateful.

There aren’t enough words in the world that I could say to you to express how much the two of you mean to me. But this is a start. Thank you for pushing me and not letting me give up. Thank you for reminding me that there are other beautiful things about me besides the shape of my body. Thank you for building such an incredible family and showing us how lucky we are to have a support system like the two of you.

I love you both. I can never tell you enough.

Love,

Court