My Father

The world is celebrating teachers, and I am fortunate to have been raised by one. My dad is an amazing human being; he raised me and my siblings to be the best versions of ourselves. My favorite childhood memories include him asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I mentioned a doctor, and even though he didn’t know much about me, he still supported me the best way he knew how. I messed up so many times that I almost gave up on the dream. But he knew that it was what I wanted, so he held on to the dream. I look at my life sometimes and wonder what I would have become without this man. There are days that I make really questionable choices, but he still supports me anyway. He taught me to hold on to the dream, holding my hand even when I couldn’t stand. I have grown up, and I know that when I go back to school, my masters will be dedicated to that amazing human being. He showed me what it means to scale the heights of life. It showed me what commitment is like. Now that I am older,I know for a fact that none of it was easy. Raising me and my siblings, who have different personalities, really tested that man. Our teenage years and early twenties were chaotic. My brother and I really tested our parents,but he showed up for us anyway. He still loved us even when we were clearly messing up our lives. I have been raised with pure intention. The intention is to stick by your child no matter what. We are currently at the age where we are catching up with our dreams, and the best thing about this is that he is always one phone call away. He may be a teacher at work, but he is my teacher in life. I look back now, and I realize how much grace has.
I can’t wait to make him proud,to specialize in my career, and to show him that holding on to my dream meant something. As a father, he has really done well, and as a partner, he has shown us what being a husband means. I look at their marriage and hope that one day I can have that. I can get to a place of actualization like that.
I have met many of his students, and one thing they have in common is that he gave his best. For a person who had to learn to be a father by being one, he has done an amazing job.
Today I celebrate a wonderful teacher who has lived his life teaching by example. I am proud of you, and I am happy to call you my dad. Your work has not been in vain. You have impacted lives, and your lessons stay with each of your students as they navigate life. You have done well. Mr.Ronoh J