A daddy and daughter relationship is important. Probably one of the most, if not the most, important relationships in a girl’s life. A dad is someone who will pick you up and brush you off, whether you just fell off your bike or are in financial trouble. Mine is no exception. My dad is not only there for the big things; he’s there for the little things. We’ve had our ups and downs, but who hasn’t? He is my dad, my counselor, and my own professional hugger (They’re that good). My dad is Superman and it’s all owed to where he came from.

As a kid, he moved around a lot. My grandparents struggled with money. He went through some really hard times. But one of the stories I remember most is the summer that he spent working at 14 years old to get the money he needed to go on a school trip to Washington DC. To me, having a drive like that at such a young age is an amazing thing. And the thing is, that drive didn’t stop there. He got out of the rough situations and excelled in high school. He played football and was setting himself up for success academically. Finally, he went to college. It might’ve taken a little nudging from a certain teacher, but he got there. From then on, he’s gotten married to the love of his life, a girl he met in choir in high school who just happens to be my lovely mother. They had two kids; me and my younger brother. He has strived for the best and has never settled. He even works for a school system, dealing not only with the finances, but the daily operations of the schools. He is the most hard-working man that I know, and I will always look up to him for it.

We struggled in our relationship for a few years. We felt disconnected, and I felt misunderstood. This changed when our family went through its biggest struggle to date; the hunting accident that lead to my brother’s foot being amputated. We, of course, went through a struggle period. After that ended though, we began talking; really, truly talking. I found out that we have so much more in common than I ever realized. I now have someone that will not only pick me up when I’m down, but talk me through it and try to come to the best conclusion on how to fix it. God has blessed me with this wonderful man that I’ve been fortunate enough to look up to and grow up with. My dad proves that hard work, dedication, love, and faith can take you a long way. I’d be truly lost without him.

I love you, Daddy.