Today we’d like to take a moment to applaud the parents who despite many challenges, did they best they could and did right by their kids. We asked folks to share stories of what they feel their parents got right and have shared highlights below.

Jory Brigham

I believe one thing I’ll always be grateful for that my parents instilled in me is the absence of fear. They emphasized the importance of approaching any potential project with no fear but with curiosity. This mindset is what drives progress and sustains growth. Curiosity is the foundation of growth, and as we all know, growth is one of the most crucial piece in any business. Without growth, stagnation sets in, and when that happens, boredom sets in the passion leaves and clients pick up on it. Growth is what keeps us motivated, excited, and inspires us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace challenges. Read more>>

Joyce Huang

Many things, the first of which is uprooting our family and flying us all to Canada over ten years ago. And I do mean “uproot” with the negative connotation implied: immigration was a difficult move when you’re relying on two kids, ages ten and eight (my older sister and me respectively), to translate—our parents did not speak English. There were translators for the most obviously formidable tasks, like going through customs and finding housing. But the rest we had to weather through with my sister’s and my meager grasp of English, and what (large) gaps remained in our vocabulary, we patched up with Google Translate. Read more>>

Justin Li

My Dad taught me the value of perseverance, grit, determination, and never quitting. Those lessons have proven invaluable in growing my two companies. Read more>>

Gaël Caudoux

I never talk about my parents in relation to my art, but I found this question ultimately very interesting and appropriate for my age: 45.

My mother let me live in my own world when I was a child and immediately respected my desire. She cultivated my sensitivity to the world around me and respected my pace of life—until society reminded her how much suffering it took to be integrated into the system. Read more>>

Susana Sullins

From a very young age I was labeld a problematic child. My parents never listened to anyone that labeled me as problematic instead they supported me in every way they could always believing in me and making sure my education was not a close mind education but instead an open mindset. The way I was raised and how I always had a voice and an opinion gave me the security I needed to become a teacher of young children and to advocate for them and their families. Read more>>

Dez Ihekweazu

Well, my father passed when I was just 18 months old, so a lot of the weight fell on my mom. And she did her best to keep it together for my brothers and me. She was always working—ambitious, focused, determined to make sure we had what we needed. And even though that meant she wasn’t always physically present, she never hesitated to lean on family and community. Especially for me, being the youngest and the only girl, she made sure I was always surrounded by love, structure, and experience. Read more>>

Kelley Saunders

My journey has been marked by the unforgettable lessons my Aunt Linda and Uncle Corky imparted during my toughest early days, a journey that set the foundation for everything I would become. Growing up in Miami with my older siblings, I faced responsibility at a very young age when I had to care for my ill mother. Losing her to Sickle Cell anemia at 12 felt like the world had crumbled, yet it was this very loss that compelled me to grow resilient and resourceful. Read more>>

Janice Cahambing

My parents gave me values, not just rules. They raised us to take responsibility for our actions, to never walk past someone in need, and to stay humble regardless of how much success comes our way. They didn’t shelter us from the world—they prepared us for it. They taught us that integrity matters more than recognition and that success means very little if it isn’t shared. Read more>>

Apoorva Daram

One of the most meaningful things my parents did right was nurturing a deep sense of curiosity and creating an environment where science was part of everyday life. With my father having a background in chemistry and my mother having a background in biology, I was fortunate to grow up in a household where learning was not limited to textbooks—it was integrated into conversations, daily observations, and even small experiments at home. Read more>>

Ashley Brown

When I look at where I am today as a stylist, salon owner, and entrepreneur, I know without a doubt that my foundation was laid by my father—a proud U.S. Marine, a hardworking mailman, and a single father who rarely took a single day off.

During one summer in high school, while other kids were relaxing, my dad had me create a full business plan from scratch. At the time, I didn’t fully understand why—but now I realize he was planting the seeds of entrepreneurship early, instilling in me the mindset of a builder, not just a worker. Read more>>

Nisha Patel

My parents instilled in us a strong work ethic and a deep respect for not wasting anything. From an early age, I learned to turn off the faucet while brushing my teeth, switch off lights when leaving a room, check price tags before making purchases, and cherish the one-eyed stuffed teddy bear that was my only toy. Minimizing waste wasn’t just a value—it was a way of life. My parents grew up in a rural village in India, where trash cans are virtually nonexistent because waste is so minimal. Their example taught us that with hard work and perseverance, you can change the trajectory of your life. That mindset has stayed with me and my siblings, and it’s served all three of us well. Read more>>

Amanda Robles

Looking back, one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was their example. My parents didn’t just tell me to work hard—they showed me how to work hard by leading with ethics and building with consistency.

My dad started as a route driver and worked his way up to become the general manager of a large local company. He didn’t have a college degree, but he had discipline. Watching him build a successful career through sheer work ethic taught me that success isn’t always about titles or traditional education—it’s about showing up consistently and giving your best, no matter your starting point. Read more>>

Madeleine Maiya

I write this with a tender heart, sitting in the bittersweet feelings of saying goodbye to my beloved horse BB, who passed this last Friday. Her passing opened a floodgate of memories—streams from my childhood that had long been stored away. I remember my early animal companions, the countless hourless days spent by the cornfields of Indiana, rolling around with them, and the heartbreak of saying goodbye time and time again. Read more>>

Jarrad Silver

My parents never pushed for me to follow a specific career path. To them it was less important what the actual job or salary was going to be, and more important that I worked hard and with integrity. If I was going to do something I had to really do it. Read more>>

Zenaida Martinez

My gifts all come from my different family members. My grandfather was a gardener and a decon in the church. I watched him build greenhouses, and turn any backyard into a garden! I spent many hours with him learning about plants and herbs. Then my 2 grandmothers, Mimi and Nana, were very much influencers in my life. Mimi has been a hairdresser in her kitchen for 40+ years. Nana was an entrepreneur, a seamstress, and always in the kitchen making things from scratch. Last, but certainly not least, my mom who’s an artist, a nurse, a singer, and administrator…. But most importantly, a woman of God who has been helping lead people to Christ for years! So if you add up all of those talents, you get me! A Beautician, artist, caregiver, and a science and plant nerd who loves music and cooking! You’ll find me either in the kitchen or the yard on any given day. Read more>>

Kristopher Wright

Never give up, never surrender. Read more>>

Karla-Camille Sarmiento

There were many things that my parents did right for me and my journey but there are two things that stand out to me. The first that had an impact on me was their support in everything I did – no matter what activity it was. Whether it was a sports competition, a dance recital, a theater performance or a glee club concert, seeing my parents in the audience really boosted my confidence and made me want to show what I was working on that year. It also reassured me that anything that I was passionate about or something of high importance, my parents will always support me no matter what. Read more>>

Antonio Williams

My parents have always told me “with anything you do in life, do it right or don’t do it at all. Your name is attached to anything that you do so make sure you’re remembered for doing it right”. That quote has stayed on my mind for years and it will never leave. It reminds me to take pride in everything that I do and be proud that you have the ability to do it. Read more>>

Yaqi Wang

My parents were entrepreneurs who ran a chain of over a dozen restaurants and clothing stores. I’m their only child, and seeing how demanding and exhausting the business world could be, they encouraged me to pursue a path in classical music, hoping it would offer a more refined and fulfilling life.

However, the classical music world turned out to be far more challenging than they had imagined—it’s highly competitive, with a niche and selective audience. Still, growing up in a business-oriented family taught me valuable lessons in risk management, resource allocation, and the importance of staying grounded and detail-oriented. Read more>>

Jamie Owens

My artistic journey began in second grade, thanks to the insight of my teacher, Mrs. Kelly. She saw a spark of creative potential in me and encouraged my mom to nurture it through art lessons. My parents, ever supportive, arranged for me to study with a local artist from our church, Linda Champanier. Every Sunday after the sermon, I would go to her studio. Read more>>

Kelechi Okengwu

I have a voracious appetite for reading, which came from my parents who frequently gifted me with books starting from a young age. My love for reading resulted in a big imagination and a love for learning. Angelina Swann was first birthed in my imagination and my love for learning is what keeps me going, even in the hard times. Read more>>

Thornton White

My parents taught me the importance of hard work, dedication, and willingness to learn. When I was in middle school, I really thought I was the fastest kid on the soccer field. I wasn’t. In fact, I was super slow. My father showed me on video and I realized that I had been seeing my perspective all wrong. I made a deal with my father to just have him admit that I was fast once I actually became fast. I decided to join cross country later that summer and it was treacherous but I pressed on towards the goal, which was to prove to my dad I could be fast. Side note: my dad never doubted I could become fast; just the thought of hearing him finally admit that I was fast was the fun of the journey. two more years go by and I had ended my cross country and track career in high school to fully focus on soccer. Read more>>

Tangela Crawford

I was raised in a two parent home, a mother that stayed home and made sure we were greatly cared for while my daddy worked hard to meet every financial need. I always saw both my mother and father attend church, pray, praise God, read and study God’s word. They made sure we understood the importance of putting and keeping God in his proper place. Those principles and examples have truly kept me afloat in drowning waters. Whether business or personal, my relationship and love for God has sustained me. Read more>>