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.

Ashley Chikosi

My mom is truly a remarkable woman whose unwavering support and love have shaped me into the successful person I am today. From an early age, she instilled in me the values of hard work, resilience, and kindness, teaching me that challenges are opportunities for growth. Read More>>

Victoria Mirabella

One of the greatest things my parents did right was encouraging me to pursue my dreams, even though it´s not the most predictable career path. They never tried to steer me towards something more stable; they trusted me to follow my passion, and from the beginning, they supported me, investing in my education and cheering me on when the future felt uncertain. My parents’ support is what gave me the confidence to chase my dream, and it’s a huge part of why I am where I am today. Read More>>

Aly Solot Ian Russell

We were both raised in Queen Village, a vibrant and eclectic neighborhood in Philadelphia that, by the mid-1980s when we were coming up, had become home to a growing community of artists, makers, and creative professionals. Our parents were part of that wave, working in artistic fields and actively choosing to build lives rooted in creativity and self-expression. Read More>>

Kori Poe

From an early age, I can recall my mother making sure that my older brother and I understood the importance of having Faith in Christ. Even before she became the mighty woman of Faith that she would eventually become, she would have our cousins pick us up for Sunday School and church. Later in life she became a staple in our church community. Not as a pastor, or minister, but as an usher. Her single gold tooth could be seen glistening as she welcomed people into the House of God. I witnessed her praise and pray for me as I chose a lifestyle of the streets. Her faith never wavered. Read More>>

Jill Parres-Gold

What my parents did right was teach me the true meaning of unconditional love. I was adopted, and from the very beginning, they made sure I knew I was chosen—not just welcomed, but deeply wanted. They would often tell me the story of how they got to be the lucky ones who chose me to be their child, and that narrative shaped my sense of belonging and self-worth in a powerful way. Read More>>

Gabriel Levy

I am lucky that my parents never pushed me into classical music, as this has allowed me to freely build my relationship with it. I played piano growing up but was by no means exceptional. I wasn’t shown how wonderful the world of classical could be, and the little classical music I did know I thought was mostly boring. What I really wanted to do was play rock music. Read More>>

Chelsey Hill

My parents have always shown me real love, support, and a sense of reality. I grew up in a two-parent household that, while it might have seemed perfect from the outside, had its challenges. One of the most important things they did right was teach me to prepare for the “what ifs”—for life’s rainy days. Of course, we all want flowers and rainbows all the time, but life isn’t always like that. Read More>>

Sierra Larson

Growing up, my parents taught me that grit and perseverance could carry me through anything. I had a significant learning disability, and school was extremely difficult for me. I graduated with a 2.3 GPA and often felt like I was falling behind. I know it was not easy for my parents to watch me struggle, but they never let me use that as a crutch or an excuse. Instead, they reminded me that I simply learned differently and encouraged me to lean into that. Read More>>

Zanaba Hudson

One of the things my parents did right was showing me the value of hard work and sacrifice. Something that will always stay with me is how my mom worked at the Howard University so I could attend for free. That kind of sacrifice taught me not only the importance of education, but also that sometimes the doors we walk through are opened by the people who paved the way before us. I carry that with me in everything I do—knowing that my success is not just for me, but also a reflection of the sacrifices made for me. Read More>>

Samantha Davis

Had me. Read More>>