Dear Dad,

I'm almost 20 and every day, I am so thankful that I have you as my dad. I don't think I could have been as confident in myself as I am without you. You always told me that I could do anything, especially since I'm a girl. You are the reason that I am a feminist, that I am so active in women's rights, and to be the best that I can be.

Thanks to you, it wasn't until I was older and opinionated that I learned that some think of women as less than men. When I first learned this, I was dumbfounded and in shock. Why is it that because I had different parts than a boy, why was I worth less than him? You didn't think that way. I found it stupid and because of you, I never believed it. As I got older, My opinions only got stronger and that's when I realized what you had turned me into. A feminist. Can you imagine that? A man turning his daughter into a feminist! Well, I am so thankful that you did. Because I KNOW that I am equal to everyone else, I am confident in all that I do.

One of my most fond memories with you is when you told me to cut my hair off and join the boy scouts, just to prove that a girl could do it too. I was eight at the time and was disgusted that you wanted me to cut my hair off. Yet, as I got older I realized what you were saying to me. A girl can do anything that a boy can. You would go on to repeat that line throughout my life, and I have never stopped believing it.

I can remember going to air rifile practice and shooting competitions with you. I can remeber being so proud to be your daughter and doing so well. I was just proud to have you as my dad. I can also remember when I first realzied that I was better at shooting than a lot of boys my age. That's when it really sunk in, I was BETTER at something than BOYS I knew. So at that moment I realized that no matter what, I could do absolutely anything that a boy could. So thank you for always being right there behind me. For me, behind any great girl there is a father cheering her on.

You are the best father that any girl could have ever asked for. I am so thankful that I get to call you my dad. I'm even more thankful that you there for not only me but my sister as well. I don't think I ever able be able to thank you enough.

I love you,

Bandi