Every person we encounter in our lives teaches us something. Whether it be to trust or not to trust, or even if it is to never wear purple again, we learn something. This is a letter to the man who has taught me all I need to know and more. He has taught me life's most important values. Men are supposedly stronger than women, and this means being stronger even with their emotions, but I have seen you shed some tears in your days. I have seen you filled with fear and uncertainty, with anger and disappointment and even with disgust. I have seen you laugh, love, be goofy, and be a role model like no other. I am so blessed to have someone like you as my dad, and I could not imagine a life without you.

Dad, you have raised some unbelievable kids, and we thank God and those around us every day that we have you as a father to watch us grow, make mistakes, learn and love. You have watched me fall so many times -- from bike accidents, to injuries, to teenage mistakes -- and you are always there to catch me. Times have been hard, and we have had quite the ride. You taught your kids to stick together, to be one and to unite when times are rough. I have learned life's most important lessons from you. To cook, to clean, to respect myself and others, to say please and thank you, to say "I love you" after you leave, and to try to never be sad, because life is too short.

I need you. You are a necessity in my life, in your kids' lives, and even in our dog's life. I am so blessed just to have been given a life, let alone a life from you and mom. From Sunday driving lessons to teaching me my first steps, you watched as time flew by -- and we couldn't do anything about it. From working far away to being away at school, I still need you, even if it doesn't seem it. I still need your help with schoolwork and with unnecessary questions. I will soon need your help with paying bills and learning how to take out loans. Where did the time go? It feels like yesterday when you were helping us take our first steps and getting all of us on our first bus ride to the first day of school.

"Take risks, cause life moves so fast.
You're only young once, my love, one, this is your chance." - Macklemore

This quote reminds me of you. If I have learned anything from you, it is our nonstop conversations and talks about how quickly life goes. You were just a kid like me, and now you are grown up with a full job, kids and this whole life ahead of you, and you are still trying to figure it all out. Just like the symbol of the question mark, "why" is the question about life that we will never have an answer to. Thanks to you, even though we ask why, we still accept the blank answer to the question. We live on, live free and love endlessly, regardless of what we don't know and fear. I have been taught to be selfless and never to talk badly about others. You have taught me to get up when I fall, to never procrastinate and to love my siblings and parents the most. I have grown relationships like no other because of you. We have a strong bond, you and me, my siblings and me, even my dog and me -- all because of you.

I'm scared, Dad. I am scared of what tomorrow holds, and I am scared to lose you. So I ask you to never leave, because life without you is unimaginable. You are the only man I need, the only person I would want to sit with as we watch the sun rise and set in silence. I love you for giving me that part of you, the creativity and the thought process you have. I wouldn't want to rock out to The Black Eyed Peas with anyone else. Life would never be the same without you, and I appreciate your existence more than you know. For all you have done, are doing, and will continue to do, words and actions will never be able to give back how much you give. To the most selfless, awesome and handsome man out there, my best friend, an appreciation shout-out goes to you. Have an amazing Father's Day, because you deserve it. I love you more than you love chimpanzees and life.

Every day is Father Appreciation Day for me, so never forget how much I appreciate you. I love you, Dad.