It's time to say thanks to Mom and Dad
For Live Oak High School, there are about 20 school days left. For us seniors, that's a bittersweet number. That's about 20 days left of school, with seven periods a day, five days a week. About 20 days left of school lunch, and about 20 days left of high-school drama.
It's also about 20 days left of seeing our friends daily, about 20 days left of seeing our favorite teachers and about 20 days left of the life we've led for the past 12 or 13 years of school.
We are busy planning for next year: college, jobs, moving out and expenses, but we mustn't forget that while for now we can take it for granted, some of us will no longer come home to see Mom and Dad — moms and dads who were there for us when no one else was.
They've brought us up, as best as they could, through thick and thin, caring and loving us, unconditionally, for who we are. Our parents have more value to us than simply the materials they can provide us with; the bond with our parents is intangible and invaluable.
With changing times, LOHS seniors take these fading days to reflect on just how much we love our parents.
Senior Josias Macias said, "They gave me the chance to live and brought me to this world so I could enjoy having parents like them."
Senior Laura Arellano loves her parents because, "No matter what, they've stood by my side and supported me in anything I did. And even if I do get them furious and they get disappointed in me, they still love me. Not all best friends are like that. No one told them they had to love me no matter what; they choose to!"
Sometimes we lose the love of our friends, our significant other, even other family members, but we can depend on the fact that when everyone else fails, our parents will be there to love us.
Senior Ivonne Velasquez said, "I love my parents because they have been here with me through thick and thin, no matter what has happened in my life or theirs. My parents have tried so hard to get me where I'm at. They are the only ones who can be truly honest with me and love me for who I am."
Personally, I'm astounded, yet boundlessly happy, I have the parents I have. Diligently, they've done all they could to bring up me, my brother and my sisters. It's quite difficult to adequately express my gratitude and love for them, just because they've done so much for me.
I love my life, and it's because of you two, Mom and Dad. I've lived this far; I'm graduating LOHS soon; I have a wonderful family; I'm going to college next year to major in biology and pursue a career in medicine — and it's all thanks to you, Mom and Dad.
From the Live Oak High School class of 2011 to all our parents: Thank you.
David Zermeño is a senior at Live Oak High School. This is final column for Education.
