May 19, 2025. Thanks Mom, Thanks Dad.

I've spent the last few months writing about building startups, hitting walls with MIKE-AI, exploring the depths of consciousness, and navigating the complex systems that shape our world. Throughout this journey of building and rebuilding, failing and learning, there's been an unacknowledged foundation making it all possible. Today, I want to recognize the people who gave me the freedom to chase these ambitious dreams. My parents.

The privilege of being able to pursue unconventional paths isn't something I take lightly. While I've been sitting in my bedroom with my squeaky chair, spending countless hours coding and thinking about artificial intelligence, many people my age face fundamentally different realities. They don't have the luxury of time to explore abstract concepts or build startups that might fail. They're focused on immediate survival, on making sure they can cover rent next month or put food on the table tonight. The freedom to take risks, to potentially fail multiple times before finding success, isn't evenly distributed.

This freedom came from my parents' hard work and sacrifice. They created a safety net that allows me to jump without the paralyzing fear of what happens if I fall. I see the worry in their eyes sometimes. They came up through different systems, different realities. They followed more traditional paths to security and stability, and they naturally want the same certainty for their child. The startup world, with its high failure rates and unpredictable outcomes, represents uncharted territory to them. They worry about this son who spends days and nights building things they don't fully understand, chasing visions they can't quite see. Their concern comes from love and from the patterns they've observed throughout their lives.

Right now, I'm finishing my bachelor's degree, and I'm doing it primarily for them. For me, the degree is just a piece of paper, not nearly as meaningful as the journey I've experienced throughout my university years. The lessons learned building startups, the failures encountered, the moments of clarity and growth, these shaped me far more than any formal curriculum ever could. But I understand what this milestone means to my parents. It represents security, completion, and following through on commitments. So I'm completing it, not because I need the validation it provides, but because I recognize the importance they place on it.

What they might not fully grasp is that they've inadvertently prepared me for exactly this journey. The education they prioritized, the curiosity they encouraged, the resilience they modeled, these weren't just generic life skills but specifically the tools needed for innovation and entrepreneurship. They taught me to think independently while respecting others, to work hard while maintaining balance, to dream big while staying grounded. These seemingly contradictory capabilities form exactly the foundation needed for building something new in a complex world.

The current path I'm on, focusing on physics research with MIKE and exploring new approaches to value creation, represents an evolution rather than a departure from their influence. I'm applying the foundational values they instilled, just in contexts they couldn't have anticipated when raising me. The determination I bring to solving complex problems, the patience I've developed when facing setbacks, the integrity I maintain when making difficult decisions, these all echo lessons they taught through both words and examples.

I understand their perspective too. From where they stand, conventional paths appear safer, more tested, more likely to lead to the security they want for me. They've witnessed the reliability of traditional career trajectories throughout their lives. Their desire for me to follow similar paths doesn't come from a lack of faith in my abilities but from a deep wish to protect me from unnecessary hardship. There's wisdom in their caution, even if I've chosen a different approach.

The beauty of our relationship is that despite these different perspectives, their support remains unconditional. They may not always understand the technical details of what I'm building or the market dynamics I'm navigating, but they understand me. They see the passion that drives me, the capabilities I've developed, the resilience I demonstrate when facing obstacles. Their trust in who I am gives me freedom to explore what I might become.

This freedom creates responsibility too. The fact that I can afford to take risks means I have an obligation to make those risks meaningful. Not just pursuing any random idea that captures my attention, but focusing on innovations that create genuine value. The safety net they've provided isn't an invitation to recklessness but an opportunity to attempt things that might otherwise be impossible. I owe it to them to use this privilege thoughtfully.

As I continue my current research and development work, their influence shapes my approach in subtle but important ways. The humility they taught helps me recognize my limitations and seek appropriate partnerships. The work ethic they modeled keeps me going through inevitable challenges. The integrity they instilled guides my decisions about what to build and how to build it. They're present in every line of code I write, every system I design, every problem I choose to tackle.

I'm truly grateful for all these experiences that have shaped me into who I am today. The combination of their unwavering support and the freedom to explore unconventional paths has allowed me to develop perspectives and capabilities I wouldn't have gained otherwise. This unique blend of stability and liberty has been the perfect environment for growth, letting me learn through both successes and failures without catastrophic consequences.

What makes their support particularly meaningful is that it comes without demands for specific outcomes. They haven't tied their approval to conventional markers of success like job titles or income levels. This unconditional backing creates space for authentic exploration rather than performance aimed at winning validation. I can pursue what genuinely matters rather than what would look impressive at family gatherings.

Looking ahead, I'm increasingly aware that the greatest gift I could give them isn't conventional success but meaningful impact. They didn't work hard just so I could accumulate wealth or status. They sacrificed so I could contribute something valuable to the world. The specific form that contribution takes matters less than whether it genuinely improves lives beyond my own. This understanding shapes the direction of my current work and will continue guiding future decisions.

So to my parents: Thank you for the foundation that makes everything else possible. Thank you for supporting dreams you don't always understand. Thank you for worrying about me while still letting me find my own way. The security you've provided isn't just financial but emotional and intellectual. You've given me both strong roots and the courage to spread my wings. I recognize this privilege and promise to use it thoughtfully, building something that matters rather than just chasing excitement or status.

Every innovation requires resources, whether capital, knowledge, time, or support. You've provided all of these, creating the conditions where meaningful work becomes possible. As I navigate these uncharted waters, exploring possibilities beyond conventional paths, I carry with me the values you instilled and the confidence you fostered. The treasure I seek isn't just for myself but represents something that can benefit many. This journey wouldn't be possible without the starting point you created through years of dedication and care.

The best way I can honor your support isn't by taking the safest path but by using the freedom you've provided to create something meaningful. Not recklessly chasing excitement but thoughtfully building value. Not dismissing your concerns but incorporating their wisdom while still charting my own course. The apparent gap between your vision for my future and the path I'm actually taking isn't as wide as it might sometimes seem. We share the same fundamental values, just expressed in different contexts.

So as I continue this journey, developing new approaches and building systems that create value, I do so carrying your influence with me. Every breakthrough, every setback, every lesson learned happens on the foundation you established. Whatever impact I eventually create will have your fingerprints on it, even if indirectly. Thank you for making all of this possible. Thank you for believing in me even when my path differs from what you might have envisioned. Thank you for giving me both roots and wings.