Love—a word I began to understand from the moment my mom held my hand with my first breath of life. This Father’s Day weekend, as I traveled with my dad, away from my mom and sister, and with just two months left before I head to USC, I reflected on the journey ahead.

Spending the last couple of days with my dad brought back memories of when I first started writing blogs. This post is a dedication to him for Father’s Day and to all my uncles and friends who have played and continue to play a fatherly role, guiding and strengthening my foundation.

Love is the fuel that accelerates our journey through life. It begins with the love we receive from our parents, from our first breath to our first steps. Over time, we develop loves for things like chocolate, ice cream, toys, and video games. Eventually, the word “love” can become superficial, depending on circumstances. However, this weekend reminded me of an example Rajen Uncle once shared in his lectures. He asked the crowd to recall the first moment they met the love of their life—did they find any faults? And the first time they gave that special rose? He emphasized that the secret to maintaining a loving relationship is to approach each day as if it were the first time you met.

While I don’t yet have a girlfriend to relate to that example, I do know the feeling of my dad standing by my side and giving me a hug when I was feeling down. Or the pride I felt the first time I edited a video at my first ever job, or when I broke my first board in karate. As we grow, we become more confident but sometimes lose that initial purity. Just like old times, my dad and I talked about the phases of life, which guide us toward our life’s purpose.

But in the end, what is this life journey all about? What gets us to wake up each morning full of energy, ready to jump out of bed and start the day, instead of browsing Instagram under the covers? Growing up, love for my mom, dad, family, cousins, and friends was what fueled my energy to excel. Love for learning motivates us to succeed, despite inevitable failures. As we gain opportunities to apply our learning, love for our work develops—the ability to make a difference. Ultimately, this journey helps us discover our purpose in life, which leads to a profound love for that purpose. This is a distant goal for me, but I can see my father’s journey toward discovering his life’s purpose as he turned 51 this weekend. Every day, he continues to make efforts toward this discovery, and I witness his passion for his path growing stronger.

Each of us has unique ways of showing our love for each other. My mom’s hug, my dad’s confidence in me, my aunt’s food, my uncle taking me for outdoor activities, and my sister’s support all help shape who I am. A very happy belated Father’s Day to all dads, and to the many uncles and mentors who have played a fatherly role in my life. Lots of love and thanks for helping me get to where I am today. I look forward to continuing my journey this summer into the next phase of life with all your support and love.