there is nothing more important in my life than my relationship with my family. i'm the person i am today in large part because of their loving support. they have been with me for every success (and every failure) i've had, for which i am deeply thankful. more than anything, they taught me what it means to love selflessly and ceaselessly, without defenses and without wanting anything in return. the older i get (and the more people i come to know), the more sincerely i appreciate my parents, siblings, grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins.