To my loving parents,

I guess the title of calling you guys “overly strict” doesn’t come off as the most flattering compliment, but just know that I mean this in all gratefulness. Just because I certainly know, that if you guys weren’t the way you are, I wouldn’t be who I am today. So with that, here is my thank you to you guys.

For starters, thank you for those ridiculous curfews. When I say ridiculous, that’s only because back then my response to your power over my time was always “you’re ruining my life!” or “You’re unfair.” It was either 9 p.m. lights out, or on the weekend’s 10:30 p.m. at the latest. At the time, I didn’t understand it, and neither did my friends, and in total honesty, it did me no justice in my teenage years. Looking back, I remember thinking how the night life was so great, and just because I had an earlier curfew than my friends did, that I was missing out on all the fun aspects of my young life. But in reality, I see now that you taught me two great lessons, self-responsibility and the importance of sleep. I now see that by telling me to be home at a certain time, especially when I was driving, was to show that I could be trusted with such privileges. I know also that it was to make sure I would come home safely, because driving while being tired can be a huge danger. Especially now as a college student, I now see why being in bed at a certain time was always important. Those late nights and getting up early never do me justice, so thank you for teaching me a lesson in the importance of time management.

A huge thank you for always making “Television and friend time” after homework and chores were done. You have no idea how hard it was for me to find focus my first year of college I didn’t have anyone checking up on me to make sure I was doing my work. Let’s just say I’ve reached a whole new level of procrastination, and I now wish I had you guys around every once in a while to help me refocus. I’ll be honest it’s still an occurring problem every once and awhile but I’m getting the hang of it.

Specifically to my mother: thank you for always pushing me to persevere even when everything felt like the end of the world to me. Whether it was a broken heart I had, or I felt “sick,” you always made sure I went to school and continued my routine. At the time I felt like you were going against me and throwing me under the bus. What always used to frustrate me was the fact that I felt I was just being pushed out of my comfort zones at times, but you taught me a valuable lesson that I will take to heart forever. The lesson of perseverance and strength, so thank you mom, for helping to build the base of my strength and confidence.

To my father: thank you for always being super critical about the boys I dated. Boys in general as a topic around you was unbearable and quite embarrassing. I would get so worked up whenever you did your fair share of Facebook profiling these boys, or the never ending questions. Man, those questions made me feel like I was being interrogated, and least I mention basically asking these guys their life stories. What I didn’t see was that you had a sense in what a relationship and caring for someone was, and by stretching out the criticism was just to show that I couldn’t just settle for anyone. As overbearing as you may have seemed, and still are at times, I know that you just mean to protect your little girl.

So as you can see, I think that calling you guys “overly protective” is a pretty good compliment. I apologize for my old rebellious ways, and for the many times I have slammed the door in your faces and shut you out. I see it that you were just expressing/teaching me love and values. So thank you, mom and dad, for seeing to it that I reach my potential and for still being you.

Forever grateful and with love,

Your daughter