We asked some of the best parents we know to tell us about the most important thing they’ve done as parents and have shared their wisdom below.

Veronica Longoria | Artist & Digital Media Specialist

One of the most important things I’ve done as a parent was to never give up on the dreams I had before I became a mother. Doing so required a certain amount of faith or hope in what I had not seen or accomplished. Life’s negative circumstances gets us caught up in our limitations, so we create our own barriers, but if we can learn to see past all of that, it’s possible to become limitless. Having a daughter as an adolescent came with its own set of challenges, but I was determined, and never allowed any of life’s setbacks to become the reason why I couldn’t accomplish my goals. My daughter was able to ignite a fire within me, and became my biggest motivation for success. I wanted to show her that dreams were worth pursuing, even when times got tough, and we had to stay committed to work toward the life we envision for ourselves. Read more>>

Fantajia DeLisa Thomas | Author, Owner & Designer

I believe that the most important point to get across with my daughter is that she truly can become what it is that she want to become. But I willing to be opened about my life and hopes that it answers some questions for her. I want for her to have a reference point. I am willing to die to my old ways and purse Fantajia to change the trajectory of my my legacy. With her being the next generation of women, I want her to understand that I love her so much and a lot of my decisions came with many sacrifices. I want to be a role model to her but for her understand that before I was her mother, I was once a young lady in a city of possible and with not much of a true road map to work from. I want to give that to her. I want my great, great grandchildren to know my name. Read more>>

Sheryl Bishop | Social Psychologist, Behavioral Scientist, Entrepreneur & Small Business Owner

Dream big and pursue with persistence. I was a late bloomer professionally. It took me 11 years to finish my Bachelor’s degree because I simply couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. Then I got interested in the space program and settled on a career in social psychology to explore what made the best kind of person to work and live off-earth. I was pregnant with my second child when I applied for graduate school at UT Austin with only a freshly earned Bachelor’s degree in hand. No one thought I would be accepted. I registered as a special student and drove 1.5 hours twice a week to Austin for classes. My persistence and tenacity paid off and I was admitted. It was a theme that has served me well my entire life. It supported me through a 30 year career as a behavioral researcher in extreme environments and let me travel all over the world studying teams climbing mountains, wintering over in Antarctica, walking across glaciers and deserts, diving the world’s deepest caves and, yes, spending time in space.  Read more>>