This past Sunday night, I curled up in bed and decided to watch a movie. Yeah, I know, super crazy of me. After browsing through Netflix, I finally decided on the Kite Runner. The movie, like the book, was no disappointment. Truthfully, the movie inspired me to reflect on something extremely important: unconditional love.

The thought provoking and honest story follows the lives of two boys from Kabul, Afghanistan. Amir, a well to do Pashtun boy, lives a life filled with opportunity. Hassan is a Hazara boy who serves Amir’s family alongside his father. Amir and Hassan adore flying kites in their neighborhood with other children. The boys quickly become the best duo around. Hassan routinely runs down the kites that Amir manages to slice from the other boy’s spools of string. As Hassan runs for the last kite of the kite fighting tournament he tells Amir, “for you, a thousand times over.” On his way to return the kite to his best friend, he is brutally raped by a group of boys. Yet he confesses nothing and endures the violence to keep the kite, knowing Amir desperately wants to give it to his father. As the movie progresses, the two boys’ lives grow increasingly distant. However, despite the hardships he faces, Hassan never stops loving or respecting Amir.

Throughout the movie, I found myself thinking about the incredible power of the boys’ friendship. I was determined that what makes their bond so special is the unconditional love Hassan shows Amir. He shows his devotion to Amir regardless of the reaction he receives in return. In life, whether we recognize it or not, we all experience unconditional love. For me, I have been lucky enough to receive this unconditional love from the two people who brought me into this world. Of course, many others in my life love me. But no one has shown love quite like my parents. How many people in the world will allow you to drain their energy levels and bank accounts while still loving you?

As I’ve grown up I have slowly realized how much I owe to my parents. My confidence, my college education, many of my favorite experiences originate from their readiness to give me everything they can. Countless times, I have rolled my eyes and thought to myself, how dumb are they, only to find out that their “dumb” advice was, in fact, correct. And regardless of how many times I denied them the satisfaction of saying “you’re right,” the advice has yet to stop. Every opportunity I’ve had is rooted in their love. Their willingness to allow me to pursue my dreams in the world, no matter how big or small, is something that nobody else in life can ever match. At times, I, like Amir with Hassan, struggle to appreciate such love.

The moment Hassan told Amir, “For you, a thousand times over,” I was hit with the realization that the line perfectly sums up the unconditional love my mom and dad have shown me. I may have pushed them away and ignored their wise words, but their love has never stopped. And they will continue to do so, a thousand times over. At the end of the movie, Hassan’s way of loving inspires Amir to give his own unconditional love. My one true wish is to be able to do the same. I hope I can give someone in my life the unconditional love that my parents have given me. Perhaps, one day, there will be something that they ask of me that will prompt me to say, "For you, Mom and Dad, a thousand times over.”

Mom and Dad-- thank you a thousand times over for your unconditional love.