To My Sweet Baby
Punkin,
It’s the end of one chapter;
High school graduation.
And the beginning of another;
You turn 18 tomorrow….
That season of life feels like it lasts forever. It's one of the most formative times you'll ever experience. It shapes you. It stretches you. Sometimes it even hurts you.
But here's what I want you to know...
Nothing is ever set in stone.
Life isn't a straight line.
It's okay to not know.
It's okay to try something and realize it's not for you.
It's okay to fail.
It's okay to be angry, confused, sad, excited, hopeful, energized—or to somehow feel all of those things at the same time.
None of those emotions are wrong.
Embrace them.
They're teachers.
They're compasses.
They're often pointing you toward who you're becoming.
And remember this: none of the declarations you make today have to define the rest of your life.
Changing your mind isn't failure.
It's growth.
---
I wasn't a perfect dad.
I wanted to be.
I know there were times I fell short, times I wasn't patient enough, times I got frustrated when I should have listened.
I'm sorry for those moments.
You were always so insightful, capable, and mature beyond your years that I sometimes expected you to know more than you actually did.
That wasn't your burden to carry.
It was mine.
---
Nothing I've accomplished as an adult has happened without you alongside me.
Every career change.
Every success.
Every failure.
Every lesson.
You've been there through all of it.
In so many ways, we've grown up together.
That's a beautiful thing.
And a hard thing.
---
I know there may come a day when you're angry with me.
Maybe you'll question decisions I made.
Maybe you'll see things differently than I did.
If that day comes...
Talk to me.
I'll listen.
I'll own what I need to own.
I'll change where I can.
Because no disagreement will ever be more important than having a relationship with you.
---
The 160 miles between us was (is) always hard.
Harder on you than I fully understood at the time.
But despite the distance, I think we've built something really special.
We've learned how to stay close.
How to communicate.
How to choose each other.
And that's something many fathers and daughters never have to learn until much later in life.
My goal is simple:
Stay close to you forever.
---
As you grow older, I'll always be in the background of your life.
Sometimes I'll step in when you need me.
Other times I'll remind you that you're capable of saving yourself.
Because you are.
I've watched that strength in you your entire life.
---
Being a young dad came with challenges.
While I was helping raise you, I was also trying to figure out who I was.
I made mistakes.
I learned lessons the hard way.
Some of those lessons affected you too.
I wish I could erase that.
But I also hope you've seen someone who kept trying.
Someone who kept showing up.
Someone who never stopped loving you.
---
I also know that growing up multiracial has been part of your journey.
Being your dad has taught me more than I ever could have learned on my own.
There were things I simply didn't understand until I experienced them through you.
Embrace every part of who you are.
Your Filipino roots.
Your Nicaraguan roots.
Your white roots.
Learn where you come from.
Be proud of all of it.
Those pieces don't compete with one another.
Together, they make you uniquely you.
And despite the fact that we don't always look alike...
You're my daughter.
My baby.
You always will be.
---
You've had a front-row seat to my own pursuit of purpose.
You've watched me chase dreams, build a business, fail, start over, and keep climbing.
I don't expect you to become me.
I don't expect you to chase the same things I have.
What I hope is that you've seen what's possible when someone commits to something bigger than themselves.
The only thing I truly want for you is this:
Find peace.
Find fulfillment.
Build a life you're proud of.
Whatever that looks like.
---
Beauty school is just the beginning.
There is absolutely zero disappointment in the path you've chosen.
In fact...
I'm excited for you.
Go make it yours.
And when you decide to do something...
Really do it.
Give it everything you've got.
---
Thank you for making me a dad.
Thank you for giving my life direction long before I knew I needed it.
Thank you for being the light that quietly shaped the man I became.
I honestly can't imagine my life without you.
I can't wait to watch you write this next chapter.
I love you more than you'll ever fully understand.
Be good.
Make good choices.
And remember...
No matter where life takes you...
You'll always have me.
Love always,
Dad