My dad, Rich Delgado, alongside my mother, have played the most important roles in my life. I love both of my parents. They have both shaped me to be who I am today and for that I am eternally grateful. My father has taught me what the word tough means. He instilled my belief that quitting is never an option when things get hard. I am proud to say that I am resilient and can come back from setbacks well. I credit that ability almost entirely to my father. I have a hard time putting into words what my father means to me because honestly, we have never been super open and vulnerable around each other. Whether that is a good thing or not, that has always been more comfortable to do and be with my mom. When I'm with my dad I want to show him how great of a man he has raised and make him proud. I do not like feeling weak and want him to see I am becoming just as strong as him. I remember when I was little I wrestled because my father was a wrestler and I wanted to be like him and make him proud. I worked really hard to become the best, and I was for my age and weight class for a while. However as I got older I grew out of the joy wrestling once brought me and committed to playing soccer with the goal of becoming a collegiate soccer player. I was worried my dad would not be as proud of my decision compared to if I decided to wrestle however he was nothing but supportive. He told me he did not care what I did as long as I put one hundred percent of my effort into it. That idea of giving whatever you are doing in your life your one hundred percent effort is something I know will take me farther than I can even imagine and without my father I would never become what I know I am capable of. My dad and I have made countless memories. One I will always remember were the car rides to elementary school with my dad. He always took me to school in the morning and every morning we'd listen to country music on the way to school. I remember our favorite song was "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins, if you haven't heard it and you love your father I recommend you give it a listen. To this day whenever I hear that song I think of those car rides and more importantly I think of my father. That song embodies the emotions I feel towards my father better than I can articulate them. I am so proud to say that he is my father and I hope to become like him as I get older.