Seeing as how this is the first column of my writing career, I thought I would write about something that means a lot to me.

Most of us know that Father’s Day is this Sunday, but have we really thought about what our dads do for us?

I know that I have rarely remembered to tell my dad how much his hard work and encouragement mean to me.

My father lost his job a few days before I was born. When he got another job a week later, he had to work twelve-hour days to provide for his family. In spite of our financial trouble, our family stuck together and made it through those trying times.

Although things were tough, my dad still remembers the good times. He still remembers me waiting for him at the door when he got home to give him a hug and how I used to make him chase me down the hallway after I stole his lunch box.

My dad was also pretty cool in that he sometimes took me to school on his motorcycle. When I was in first grade, I didn’t know when to get off the bus so I rode it until I was almost back at school, crying the whole way because I didn’t think I’d ever get back home.

I was so happy to see my dad riding up alongside the bus on his motorcycle to rescue me from the horrible orange and yellow prison.

One of the best times I can remember is when my mother, father and I went camping while my mother was very pregnant with my sister. When it came time for my dad to change for bed, he tried to be very discreet and not draw attention to himself while the tent flap was open. I thought I would be helpful and shine the flashlight on him so he could see what he was doing. Unfortunately, all the other campers could see what he was doing, too.

Some of you who are unfortunate enough to not have your fathers around anymore probably hold those kinds of memories especially close to your hearts.

I only get to see my dad occasionally because I live three hours from home and my car is a Hyundai (nuff said).

It took a while, but now that I’m in college, things are a little easier. That job he started a week after I was born has turned into a nearly 22 year career with him as the senior engineer. Those twelve-hour days have gone down to eight, and he is even taking some college classes.

My dad always had high hopes for me to graduate from college and have a life that was easier than his own. Hopefully next year when he sees me walk with my diploma in hand, he can say that all his pushing me to achieve has paid off.

My dad and I had our disagreements but he has always been behind me when I needed his help with money, school and even guys.

When our dads send us that extra cash that they had to work overtime for just so we can get groceries, or when they congratulate us on a good grade, do we remember to say thank you?

When our fathers get upset with our lack of motivation and push us to get it together, do we thank them when we get a good job or an internship that actually pays?

When our dads tell us we should work for the school paper because it would be a learning experience, do we thank them when we realize that we actually like it?

Everyone’s families are different, and we all have different things, whether they are big or small, to thank our dads for.

This Father’s Day, instead of giving our dads the usual gifts of Dockers, ties and ISU gear, we should all remember what our dads have done for us and give them a call (not collect if you can), if for no other reason than to just say thanks for everything. I’m hoping that this column will be a good gift for my dad.

Hey, it’s better than socks!

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Sheila Collins is a senior in journalism and mass communications from Council Bluffs.