To the most influential women in my life,

Your constant strength and incredible confidence combined with your unwavering support and encouragement you have given me throughout my life has made me the person I am today. You pick me up when I am down and build me back up, reminding me of all that I am capable of while you do so. For that reason I am so grateful for you.

Through the good times, your happiness and pride for my successes motivate me to try even harder and pushed me to succeed even more. I admire how you encourage, not only me, but others around you with ease. It works on me, so I know it works on others that you meet too. Because of this, you are the kind of person I have always, and still do, want to be.

And the bad times, because you and I both know they're out there. Thank you for being on my side, even when I was in the wrong. By that I mean, you being there to guide me in the direction that would eventually lead me to the best solution to a situation helped me more than you will know. You continue to remind me that mistakes are human. The advice I have received from you replays over and over in my head on a daily basis as words of wisdom that would not mean nearly as much had it not come from you.

You have been there for everything. At every competition or game, every ceremony, every graduation and every recital, your smiling face was the first I saw when I looked out into the crowd. That image is engraved in my head, because we were both sharing in the same pride. I was proud of myself for competing or accomplishing whatever goal or event it was. You were proud because you saw me complete whatever sort of journey I had gone on to get where I was at that day. We did the journey together, so having you see each accomplishment like that solidified what we shared. I hope one day I can be that person for a young woman in my life, like you have been for me.

You have my best interest at heart. You make every fall feel like I can bounce back even stronger. You help me to see the full potential I can reach. You show me kindness, love, compassion and what it means to be brave. You have done this since day one and continue to as each day passes by.

You are everything I want to be and more. Thank you for being you, and for teaching me what it means to be the best version of myself.

I love you,

The one who looks up to you all