Keep your Head Held High!

Today is my birthday. On this lovely date, I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to my parents, the wonderful people who have shaped me into who I am today. Being a parent myself, I feel tempted to write a letter to my daughter as well. As a mother of two teenagers, I am proud to say that the bond between us is strong; the siblings are both always encouraged to try, to explore, and to fail and learn from their mistakes to become more resilient.

In the commercial world, the seemingly dispassionate concepts of “benchmarking” and how businesses are “ROI and KPI dominated” are thrown around daily. However at home, I do my very best not to apply these kinds of ‘work vocabulary’ to my children. I see them as very unique individuals, not defined by numbers or how much they achieve in life, but instead defined by who they are as people.

My dear Kessandra, you are excelling in the classroom while simultaneously taking an active role in debating, gymnastics, and leadership at school. Your cheerful and optimistic character ‘wins’ you a diverse group of friends from which you can learn. I can never express into words how proud I am of you. Our moments together are always so sweet and heart-warming; from bedtime cozy girls’ talk to a wild and freeing ski adventure up on the chilly mountaintops in China, Korea, and Japan, you are, and always will be, my best friend. My promise to you is that I will be by your side forever; celebrating your successes and helping you get up and learn after your failures. Very soon, you will be embarking on a new chapter in life. I wish you all the best in your university studies and hope happiness finds you wherever you go. Chin up, my lovely daughter! You can do it.