If you would have asked me five years ago what the greatest gift I ever received was, I probably would have told you something electronic, or maybe tickets to a concert of some artist I was dying to see live. Some material item that someone (probably my parents) had bought me for either Christmas or my birthday. However, if you were to ask me today what the greatest gift I ever received was I would have a completely different answer. You see—as you grow older—you begin to realize something. You realize you aren’t truly rich until you have something money can’t buy.

The greatest gift I ever received was the gift of my parents. Parents who believe in me, parents who support me, parents who encourage me and above all, parents who love me. I’ve always known how lucky I am to have parents who are all of these things and more, but it wasn’t until I moved away from home and started college that I learned how to appreciate them completely. I know there are teenagers and kids out there who aren’t as fortunate as my siblings and I are. They have parents who haven’t been there for them, or who have abandoned them completely. Or maybe parents who don’t support their dreams or help them when they need it.

It’s no secret that without my parents I wouldn’t be able to do all of things I’ve gotten to do, or gained all the experiences I have. They granted me the ability to try all of the extracurricular activities I wanted to throughout grade school until high school. They never limited me or told me I couldn’t do something. Later on, my parents supported my decision when I chose the college I was going to attend along with the degree I wanted to pursue. I am able to chase my dreams knowing that I have a strong support system to fall back on when things get tough.

Although, perhaps the greatest thing I have to thank my parents for is not in what they have given me, but in what they have taught me. They taught me how to be driven and how to work hard so I may earn whatever it is I want. They also taught me how to be kind to others and how to stay humble when things in my life are going well as you never know just how quickly times can change. They showed me that money isn't everything, and how flaunting your wealth will never make you truly happy. They explained how life doesn't always go exactly how you plan and that when you make a mistake you need to own up to it. They also made it very clear that qualities like looks and intelligence will only get you so far if you don't have personality and compassion to go along with it.

As for the hundreds of other life lessons and virtues my parents have taught me, and for the ones they still have yet to teach me—I am so thankful. I strongly believe the person you become has so much to do with how your parents taught and raised you. I can’t thank my parents enough for the way they raised me, as it has shaped me into the individual I am today. All that I am, and all that I hope to be, I owe to my parents.