My dad (back), my sister (far left), me (center), and my mom (far right) (2015)

After analyzing the parenting styles that my parents utilized to mold the person I am today and the unconditional love that has ultimately nurtured my psychological health, I realize just how blessed I am to have the parents that I do. Despite the stark differences in their childhoods, they shared similar values and worked through their dissimilarities to create the best possible childhood for their two daughters. One of the last questions I asked my parents during their interviews was, “Are you satisfied with the relationships you have with your children?” and they both confidently answered yes. They are proud of the goal-driven, independent, and loving people that they created through their loving home that they built and their child-rearing strategies.

I am proud to call my family my family, and I am proud of the person that my parents helped me become. If I ever have children, I intend to use my parents as an example just as my own did, to create such a loving and supportive environment such as the one I grew up in. All of my strengths, morals, and all of the life lessons I have learned are attributed to my parents. And for that I thank them.