Dear Mom and Dad,

I know things are different, I'm in college and don't live at the house anymore. Every time you see me you say I look 'so grown up'. And sometimes it feels like I'm farther than 45 minutes away, but I'm not. One thing is for sure that hasn't changed and never will, I'd never be where I am without you. And I just want to take a moment to say 'Thank You.'

Thank you for teaching me to be responsible and that even though I didn't make the mess I should still help clean it. For teaching me how to be confident but not cocky, how to properly present myself and make a good impression. Thank you for teaching me the lessons that every kid needs to learn and be able to project out of themselves.

Thank you for also letting me be me, for letting me be a free spirit. You both have always pushed me to be true to myself and never let anyone tell me different. You always supported my decisions, even when they were questionable and didn't quite end like I had planned.

Mom, thank you for being my person, the Meredith to my Cristina, the peanut butter to my jelly. You are truly my best friend and always will be. You have taught me so much about how to be strong, beautiful, graceful, how to love and how to love yourself. Thank you for the late nights at dance, the long distance competition journeys. Thank you for belting Disney songs in the car with me and for not judging my poor signing voice. Thank you for loving me when I didn't love myself and for the many pep talks (and the many more to come). I don't know where I'd be without you but I know that I wouldn't be the person I am today without you.

Dad, thank you for being my dance partner, my protector, my shelter, the one guy I can go running to when the world is falling apart. Thank you for teaching me that hard work is better than sloppy work and it's better to be known for being a hard worker than being a lazy worker. Thank you for teaching me that you can start from the bottom and make your way to the top. Thank you for picking me up when I thought I couldn't pick myself up. Thank you for dancing with me on a stage and holding me when all I could do is cry the last time. You have taught me to hold my own and never back down from a fight, and I know I wouldn't be the person I am today without you.

So thank you for putting up with me when I was impossibly moody. Thank you for loving me through my brace face phase and every other phase. Thank you for never judging me ( or at least hiding the faces). I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything

Love,

Your Little Girl,

Your Favorite Kid(just kidding),

Your baby,

Taylor