Written By Contributor Writer Kayla Dusing
When I decided to apply to a school 650 miles away from home, there were many people who didn’t believe that’d I’d make it. I was shy. I had anxiety. I was the last person who anyone thought would leave home. But today, I’m in my third year of college and I’m a stronger, better version of myself. I take on new opportunities, I have grown more independent, and I take pride in many of my achievements. I would never have achieved this better version of myself without all the people who believed in me. I definitely owe these people a huge thanks, but I’m also thankful every year that I can continue to count on them.
Parents
My parents are my biggest believers. Without them, I wouldn’t have succeeded in all that I do. They are my biggest pushers, and my number one fans. I come to them if I need advice on anything, and they are always able to keep me level-headed and thinking clearly. They encourage me to use my best skills to get me where I want in life.
Not only are they my life cheerleaders, they are my best friends. They are the first people I tell when sad or exciting news happens. We gossip about family, friends, and even college. They’re the first people I think of when I dream about world adventures together (Mom, we will definitely get to go to Spain one day). They are as close to me as my best friends are. After all that they do for me, it’s hard not to be thankful for them.
Friends
After high school, it’s very true that you realize who your best friends are. I cut ties with a very close friend of mine, but in the end I realized that my two other best friends were the ones who believed in me the most. When you end toxic relationships, you gain support from the friends that want the best for you. My two best friends play a similar role to my parents, except most of the time they are reassuring the actions I want to pursue. I could talk all about an internship that I want to apply for, and ultimately they will tell me that it’s a great opportunity and to go for it. They’re my number one friends to go to when I really just need someone to back me up on the decisions I’m making, whether good or bad.
I’m grateful to have such good friends in my life. I’ve known both of them for six or more years and they’re always able to give me advice on things I’m worried about. If they didn’t believe that I’d be able to take on something, they would tell me, and that’s the great thing about having them. From day one of college, we all do our best to believe in one another. They’re the set of friends that will tell you what is real, and if you can handle it, unlike your parents who will most likely tell you that you’re amazing at everything.
Significant Other
Since my best friends and parents do not see me everyday at school, my boyfriend is the one who sees my achievements first hand. He believes in me when I don’t even believe in myself. He believes that I can excel in hard classes when I doubt myself. He believes that I can achieve A’s on exams when I’m worried I will fail. He believes that I will do amazing at every internship and job I encounter, even when I’m nervous about my work ethic. He believes in me when I have my biggest worries, and because of that I am able to take a deep breath and keep my anxiety at bay. He is my voice of logic when I have lost my way, and he urges me to take on projects that even I’m nervous about tackling. I am more than thankful to have someone who believes in me fully, even when I do not.
Myself
At the end of the day, I wouldn’t be where I am if I didn’t believe in myself. Believing in yourself can take a lot of courage, especially if you’re someone who always doubts themselves, but it’s important to remember that you are your biggest promoter of yourself. It will be hard to get anywhere if you don’t believe in yourself. You have to believe that you are doing your best, that you can get through a hard day, or that you will have the courage to take on new responsibilities. Although your family and friends may be your biggest cheerleaders, you have to realize that you are also your biggest fan. By being your number one fan, you are able to work to your fullest potential on anything you want. Over time, you will find yourself pushing more and more to conquer any difficulty you come across in life. I am thankful that I can believe in myself daily because it makes me stronger and it makes me put forth my most amount of effort on anything I do.
