Tribute To My Father: Happy Daddy's Day

I was taking AP Language Composition this last year, and we had to write three essays that we could potentially send to colleges. We had to write about a significant event, person etc...and the first one I wrote mine on was my father. My wonderful father as done so much for me; I appreciate everything he's done...and I love him so very much. This is dedicated to my father: I love you Poppa.

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Who I am: a sister, a friend, a lover, a music appreciator, a writer…in the most accurate definition, I am myself. Broadly defined I am a young woman of society just trying to get through life. Religiously defined: I am a daughter of God who loves me. With all that said, I am that which surpasses all: I am my father’s daughter; without my father, I could not be me.

My parents divorced when I was too young to remember my mother at all, and my father took on the challenge of raising six children alone. He constantly worked, and wasn’t always around, but he was there enough. At the time I didn’t understand what he was doing, but as I reminisce of my childhood I see he taught me the importance of hard work, whether success followed or not. He always told me that family was most important and proved it through his diligence to meet our needs. With a lack of feminism, he taught me to be strong, tough, and to “stop crying”. He also walked me through problem solving and improving my situations. Because of this, I started doing my own laundry and cooking simply at the ripe age of five; I became a rather independent and efficient Preschooler.

In later childhood, he focused me on responsibility around the house and accountability for my choices. He raised me to be devoted to my religion, and I love it above all still today. Since my father was usually absent, my siblings did some disciplining, but I did a lot of it myself, including washing my mouth out after uttering my first swear word. Overall, he taught me to be an upright young woman and to be accountable for my actions.

As a teen, he gave me guidance and support through my hardest trials. In my depression and anorexia years, he did everything in his power to heal me. Because of him and the lessons he taught me before, I overcame a life-threatening situation; all because of that unconditional love he has for me. He also loved me enough to let me go. Due to my father’s depression of being laid off and a step mother with Borderline Personality Disorder, I was emotionally abused and my father decided to let me live with another family so that my needs could be met and to have a proper mother. He sacrificed losing me in order to allow me to grow and develop into the woman we both know I have potential for.

My father changed me for good; because of him I am myself, and that’s something pretty significant. Who I am: dedicated, respectful, determined, virtuous and gentle. Intellectually defined: I’m the typical woman, occasionally caught up in emotion but still have a sturdy head on my shoulders. Academically speaking, I am a potential future graduate of your school.