Dear Dad,

I'm so blessed and honored to have a father figure like you in my life, because you've given and taught me so many things. I know we may not always agree on some things, and we may argue sometimes, you have never given up on me. There are so many things I want to thank you for, but unfortunately I can only fit a handful in this article. So thank you for:

1. Always Pushing Me to Do My Best

You have always motivated me to do my best in whatever I was involved in, no matter how difficult it got, and when I failed you never gave up. At the time I may not have appreciated hours of homework in high school, or 6+ hours at volleyball practice on a summer morning when I could be sleeping, but now I see why you did it. You did so that when I was in college I would be prepared for whatever the world would throw at me. You believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself, and your wise words of encouragement got me to where I am today.

2. Teaching Me to Have a Backbone

For as long as I can remember you've always told me to stand up for what I believe in, and to not let anybody knock me down. Some times this gets the best of me, but it has shaped me into the strong willed individual I am today. The way you carry yourself and don't let anyone tell you that your opinion or thoughts are invalid is something I greatly admire and respect about you, and I'm so happy I adopted this thought process from you.

3. Being my Rock

There have been countless times when I've run crying to you with either a broken heart in need of mending, or a scratched knee in need of a bandaid, and you've been there with open arms there to catch me. You have let me make my mistakes, some of them stupider than others, but when I messed up you brushed me off, and gave me the strength to get back up again and conquer the obstacle that knocked me down. You've given me tough love in times of struggle, and at the time I may have not liked it, but that has also shaped me into a stronger individual, and I'm forever grateful.

4. Working Hard

You are one of the hardest working people I know, just so that you can keep a roof over our head, food in our stomachs, and an occasional trip to the mall. I've watched you work from noon to 1 am at times just to make me and mom happy, without even having a break for yourself. Even when you were sick you worked long hours so that our family didn't collapse financially. My whole childhood your worked so hard just so that mom could stay home and raise me, and thats one of the greatest sacrifices a father could make. You've done everything from traveling to dangerous places, to working two jobs back to back, and I aspire to be as hardworking as you when I join the workforce.

5. Being a Great Example for the Boy I Would Date

When I was finally old enough to date I looked for a boy who respected me and treated with me utmost respect, because thats how you've always treated mom, and I longed for a relationship like that. You also have treated me like your little princess for my whole life, and I wanted the person I dated to treat me like that. I wish more guys in today's world acted like you, they could really learn something from you.

I love you for everything you are, and you've been one of my greatest role models. Thank you for being in my life and never giving up on me as your little girl.

Love your little princess