My mother and father are, without a doubt, two people I respect most in my life. We rarely fight, and I can honestly say that I have never been extremely angry at either of them. Friends who have noticed how close I am to my parents have asked me, “Why are you such a perfect daughter?” Of course, I am nowhere near perfect! I just make a conscious effort to be the best daughter I can possibly be because I feel that my parents deserve it, at the very least. This effort isn’t shown through sporadic showerings of gifts or anything spectacular; instead, I simply try to be thoughtful. When I am home during the summer or winter vacation, I try to help them with chores like washing the dishes and folding the laundry, because I know that they would benefit from a break, even if it’s a temporary one. I keep them updated on what’s happening in college, and I call them at least a few times a week just to say hi. Parents deserve to know what’s going on in our lives, to be able to celebrate our successes with us and to share in our disappointment when we fall short of our goals. When they give us advice, we should remember that it is well-intentioned and from the heart. And when our parents criticize us, it is only because they want us to reach our potential.

I think the key to any relationship (including friendship) is genuine mutual respect. While historical figures or billionaire businessmen often provide inspiration, I am most motivated whenever I think of my parents and how hard they have worked in order to create this wonderful life for our family.  I feel that I had the perfect childhood due to my parents’ love, and I have always felt incredibly lucky to be their daughter.