Dear K,

You started preschool a few weeks ago. You couldn’t wait for this day to come. You had watched your big brother go to school for the last two years and you couldn’t wait for your chance to follow suit. You waited as patiently as a three-year-old could and now the time finally arrived. I wanted to take just a minute to share my thoughts with you as you begin your journey through school.

First of all, don’t lose the excitement. The first morning of school, you burst out of bed with a smile and exuberance for the day ahead. As your dad and I tried our best to shake off sleep and wake our tired bodies, your energy and excitement for the day could barely be contained. Don’t lose that enthusiasm.

Secondly, the world is wide open to you. You live in a time where information is at your fingertips. You are blessed with options and possibilities. You can be what you want to be and do what you want to do as long as you work for it. You are blessed to live in a country of freedom, where women are valued and choices abound. Don’t take that for granted. Know it is a privilege and know that your future is up to you. No one owes you anything, but you owe it to the world to leave it a better place than when you arrived, even if that means touching just one person’s life for the better.

Keep your imagination alive. You have an ability to see things in ways that no one else does. You are a storyteller, a creator and an artist. It is easy to allow self-consciousness to strip that away, but don’t let it. Be strong in the unique person you are. The world needs your creative perspective.

Never stop learning. The other day as we were driving down the road, you were reading a book in the backseat and called out, “I’m getting smarter back here!” You had pride in your voice. There will always be more to learn and discover. Always move forward. Never let your mind or your thirst for knowledge atrophy.

Watching you prepare for school has reminded me of myself as a child. In early elementary, I remember waking early to get ready for school, being excited about each new friend I made and reading through entire text books the day I got them because I couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead. You might reach a point when you get tired of school and bored with where you are. In those moments, remember these early days. Remember that thirst for knowledge. Remember your delight at getting smarter. Through hard work and focus, the world will be wide open to you. I can’t wait to see the impact you make on it.