Dear mom and dad,

This school year has been life changing. With starting college this fall, working through personal trials, having to step out of my comfort zone on a daily basis, and so much more—you have both continued to support me, correct me, encourage me, and loved me through and through. You have been there every step of the way, and I know that I don’t say it that often, but I am thankful.

Almost every night you have both listened, as I talk about my day, the ups, the downs, the highlights, the challenges, and the good. There have been times when I started school, where I have wept, because I felt like nothing was going well, nothing was getting better, and I felt broken down and confused. And when all I wanted was your pity and for you to tell me that everything was going to be okay, you both always challenged me to look to God and to trust the He has a plan for everything. And this is why I am so thankful for you both. You are my parents, but you are so much more. You’re my leaders, my encourages, my correctors, my counselors, and my friends. The relationship that I have with you both is only possible because of our personal relationships with God, and it is only possible because we share the same hope, the same passion, and the same love.

Neither of you have ever once have told me to give up— at times I might have been told to take something slowly, to be more positive, or to stop creating more stress for myself— but always pushing me forward to accomplish the goals I have set for myself. You both know how to help me understand other perspectives, teaching me to seek truth. Also, showing me how to discern, and to not just naively agree with something. You have both taught me to be a better communicator, to resolve conflict and arguments, to apologize, to forgive, and to love.

These past eighteen years have been a process, and I don’t think anybody else could have prepared me for life as a college student as well as the two of you did. There are many lessons I have learned, many experiences I have gone through these past eighteen years, that have made me who I am today—with your help. My life is not only a testimony of the work that God has done in me, but the work that He has done through the impact that you both have had on me. I know that one day, if I have the privilege of being a parent, I will use your examples to inspire my own parenting. My only hope is that I will be just as loving and caring to my children as you guys are to me and to our family.

So thank you. I am thankful for parents who I am proud of, who have taught me to be independent, for always being there in times of need, for being godly examples, for correcting me even when it hurts my pride, for experiencing life with me, and for sacrificially serving God in all that they do.

Thank you Laura and Carl, I love you both.

Sophia