Graduating high school with not only a diploma, but also an associate’s degree, starting at a university at the age of 17, and maintaining a job from the age of 16 on are all things I was successful in doing. I like to think of these as some of my shinning, defining moments that show the true work ethic and drive that I possess.
Dropping a sorority, quitting tennis, being blacked out drunk, and using my annual drop for a class I felt was too hard are things that reflect my less motivated and my unproductive qualities. Everyone has moments that they wish they could just block out, however sometimes that isn’t so easy.
The difference between these two lists of character building and defining moments is that one list shows times when I was particularly successful, and the latter shows moments in which I see myself as a failure. Both of these sets of moments are crucial to who I am today. When I walked up to get my high school diploma, and the following week walked across the stage to receive my associate’s degree, I felt on top of the world. I looked in the crowd, found my mom and dad and knew they were beaming and proud of me—heck, I was proud of myself. I knew that I wouldn’t have been in the position I was in if my parents didn’t instill the value of perseverance and hard work in me from a young age. I wish moments like these could last forever. There aren’t enough thank you’s and kind words that I can say to my parents to show them I truly would not be where I am today without either of them. They’ve always done anything and everything to ensure that my future was as bright as the sun.
Moments when I woke up in my bed not knowing how I got home the night before because of being intoxicated, or moments in which I quit sports or clubs are moments that I can’t look my parents in the face and say that I am proud of. In these moments, I knew that what I was doing wasn’t what I was raised and taught to do. Tough it out in the sports that aren’t your favorite, and make sure you look at the positive in every bad situation. Don’t get too drunk, call if you need a ride. These are things I have constantly heard my parents say to me. I can’t tell them enough how comforting these statements are. I want them to know that these negatively defining moments are not ones that they have caused, yet they have caused my brightest and best moments—the negative is me being a flawed human, but aren’t we all?
Mom, Dad, thank you. I owe you the world. I may not understand our relationship fully until I have kids of my own. I hope when you reminisce on your time raising and shaping me in my young years, my middle school, high school and college years, you reminisce on the successful, selfless and loving parenting ways that shaped my bright, successful and significant moments.
