It’s impossible to stretch 18 years of amazing memories with my parents into a condensed set of words. It's equally difficult to highlight each of their amazing features that make them so deserving of such an award, however, I'm going to try my best to make them proud.

My mother and father, Randy and Warren Dictor are two of the most selfless people you could meet. They would give up so much in order to see my sister and I become happy and successful. In fact, my mother did just that. When I was born, in 1998, my mother left her full- time position in the city at a fashion marketing agency to raise me. She did not return back to work nearly 10 years later when my sister and I were both enrolled in elementary school. I could go on and on about how the memories that were created in their presence fostered a lifetime of imagination and laughter and how their words of encouragement inspire me to do my best even when they aren't with me, but I will just highlight the key points.

My father is the epitome of laughter and light. He may be overly loud at points, always when his precious Miami dolphins are concerned, but he is someone who knows how to inspire those around him. His key phrase "attitude determines altitude," was originally said jokingly between family members but is now said in earnest. It proves that we can do whatever we stick our mind to. My father was also kind enough to share with me his love of music, specifically classic rock and the Beatles.

It was a rarity, growing up, to find my family not listening to music and whipping delicious homemade pancakes on Sunday morning. My father is also one of the most courageous people I know. He was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2013, and although he had been in remission now for over 2 years, his strength and courage inspire me every day. During this hard time, while my father was sick, my grandmother fell ill to cancer of a different type.

Hers was Ovarian and was spreading rapidly, my father was sick at the same time as his own mother. Yet, because of how quickly her disease was spreading my father elected not to inform of his sickness. My father is the rock of my family, always there to lend a hand, dependable and strong. He has gone through hardships that I pray that no one should have to face; despite all of this he never lost sight of the positive things in life and never once let a smile leave his face.

My mother, though short in height, makes up for it in her unparalleled presence. Her laugh is one that is impossible to mistake and she can be often heard signing or speaking to herself. She is the one person in my life, I have always been reliant on and she has never steered me wrong.

My mother, who works long hours at a part-time job would first come home and cook us dinner and help with homework before even thinking about herself. My mother is a force of nature, making her known in almost all social events. She is the type of person I want to be when I'm older, unafraid and determined. My friends used to say that I was so much like my mother, and it used to bother me.

Now, I find that the biggest compliment of all. To be compared to someone who sacrificed for you and cared for you for your whole life is something that can never be replicated. When I was younger and had trouble sleeping, my mother would come into my bedroom, hold out both of her closed fists and say "pick a dream." whichever fist I picked would open up and sprinkle happy thoughts for my dreams for the rest of the night.

My mother has been my most frequent caller these past few weeks, homesickness had gotten the best of me and I needed love and support from my family. I remembered, that my mother had organized my whole extended family to send cards, letters, pictures and gifts to me.

These were all gifted in a box that I received on the day of my graduation party. The fact that my mother would know that I would need to see the words written on those pages before I ever called home proves how devoted she truly is. She understands and accepts me, loving me no matter happens throughout my life. My mother is strong, courageous and can command a room with one sentence, she is who I look up to and whom I strive to be like.

My mother and father though similar have their differences, which help them to balance out as parents and as people. Where my mother may be headstrong, my father is more reserved. And where my father is more passionate about certain situations, my mother is laid-back. I love them both so deeply; they inspire me everyday and are the people I look most to for guidance in my everyday life.

They are the strongest people I know and have helped me to adjust to my new life here at James Madison University. They worked incredibly hard in order to be able to provide me with the opportunity to attend a university and work my way to becoming successful. They have given me the best 18 years of my life and this is just a small way to try and say, "Thank you, you did a good job."