As a freshman in college, we are on this new journey to get a degree in the field that we want to pursue for the rest of our lives. To get on this journey, we have had to deal with so many dwarves knocking at our door.

Now, we don't exactly live in Hobbiton, in a little hobbit hole, and we didn't have 13 dwarves interrupting our tea time, but we still had so many obstacles to get through to graduate from high school and to get where we are today.

We all must admit the fact that we have a Gandalf in our life. someone who comes knocking at our door when we least want them to, who saves us from all of the Orcs and fire-breathing dragons and who brings us new opportunities.

My Gandalf was and still remains to be my Mom and Dad to this very day. Even though I don't have fire-breathing dragons or Orcs out to get me, I still have made mistakes, been brokenhearted, struggled in school, lost friendships and a faced countless number of other obstacles. My parents were always there with their metaphoric wizard staff to help me slay all of my dragons and Orcs throughout all four years in high school, and pretty much my whole life.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you for raising me to be the loving, faithful and strong girl I am today! Thank you for teaching me so many lessons in life: how to ride a bike, how to tie my shoes, how to tell right from wrong, how to help those in need, how to try my best and never give up, and so many more lessons that shaped me into who I am today. I am so grateful and thankful that I can call you my parents, and I can not tell you enough how much you have impacted my life. Thanks for loving me unconditionally no matter what mistakes I make in my life and for always being there to pick up the pieces.Thank you for catching my tears and for always being a shoulder for me to cry on. You have taught me that it is fine to not be okay and that, no matter what I am going through in my life, you will always be one phone call away. You have been my guiding light in the world, and I know I can always count on you to give me advice and that you'll always be here for me. Lastly, thank you for all you've ever done for me: driving me everywhere, staying up late with me to help me with my homework and countless other things.

Mom, thank you for being an incredible cook and for all of the delicious home-cooked meals you have made for me over the years. I can't wait to come home this weekend and eat some home-made pot pie! You have such a big heart and you're a beautiful, amazing person, inside and out. You always inspire me to be a better person because you go out of the way to help other people. You spread love with your cooking, when you take home-cooked meals to families who are going through a rough patch in their life. Because of your kindness, you make the world better one meal at a time. When I see the smiles you bring to people's faces, it inspires me to help others and change the world.

Dad, thank you so much for for watching a copious number of horror movies with me, even the stupid ones, and even when it is not Halloween. You know I am a horror fanatic and they don't scare me a bit, but I love the thrill of watching them. I look forward to watching movies with you when I come home tomorrow! Thank you for taking me on so many shopping trips, to so many different Walmarts, almost every day of the week before I left for college to go dorm room shopping. I know it took patience, and I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to do that! Lastly, thank you for giving me the gift of sarcasm and for teaching me always to see the humor in every situation. You are such a loving and amazing guy and I couldn't ask for a better Dad. There is no doubt that you are changing the world one laugh at a time.

I can not tell you enough what you both mean to me and how much I love you! I was definitely blessed with amazing parents who encourage and love me no matter what and who make my life worth living. Thank you, most of all, for getting me where I am today. I would not be here attending my dream school without you pushing me to make the right choices and to get better grades. Because of the both of you, I am on my way to following my dreams of becoming a writer!

I love the both of you from the bottom of my heart!

With love from your loving daughter,

Jordan

Here is my challenge to all of you: Even if it is someone else besides your parents in your life who helped get you where you are today, take a moment out of your busy schedule to thank them and let them know how much they impacted your life; You can call them, write them a note or just send them a text. You never know what someone could be going through or how down they are; you thanking them could make their world so much brighter and make their day! Spread love because love can change the world!

Until next time with love,

Jordan Nicole