1. Failure was not an option. They instilled a healthy fear of laziness so you knew never to half-ass anything.
2. They may have been really hard on you, but they were also supportive. Your dad was more than willing to break a few speed laws to get you to the library before it closed just so you could get an extra book for a term paper. Now, he just lends a supportive ear.
3. You pay insanely good attention to detail. You know it's because your mom would have totally called you out for that misspelled word or crooked photo, but you're glad it prevents you from making so many typos in emails to important people now.
4. Detention? What's that? You never had a blemish on your perfect academic record and you took pride in that.
5. They encouraged you to work extra hard to get into an awesome college. When you got there, you met your closest circle of friends, whom you can't imagine life without.
6. Didn't want to see that terrible action movie that didn't start until 9 p.m.? You claimed you had to be home by 10. If only you could pull the curfew excuse when you feel like bailing on friends now.
7. Asking for an extension is your worst nightmare. You never handed in an assignment late because you knew your parents would be pissed. Now you have the same fear and respect of deadlines with your job.
8. You had to master the art of being persuasive. If you wanted to go out for the night, you knew the best way to convince your parents to let you spend the night at your most trusted friend's with the most lenient parents.
9. But even if you did go out to a rager, you were still too afraid to drink too much. You were the responsible friend who held back someone's hair and was with it enough to get her water.
10. You learned to pick your battles. Arguing in favor of wearing a miniskirt out of the house? Eh, you can just change into that later. Successfully convincing them to let you sleep at your BFF's place? Winner.
11. You have an unbelievable sense of self-restraint, even when drunk on a weekday night. It's past 11? I'll pass on that beer and call a cab home.
12. You weren't allowed to date but you watched your friends go through multiple heartbreaks in high school. Now you're extra choosey and have a great radar for losers. Sure, you'll make out with that cute bartender for a hot minute but you're going to date the equally cute friend of a friend with a career.
13. Belly ring scar? Questionable tattoo? Nope! You never went through any of that because you knew you'd never get away with it in the first place.
14. You've never been in jail or even seen the inside of one besides on television. Although if you did happen to get arrested, your parents would literally be the last people you call because spending the night in a cell is better than facing their reaction.
15. No matter how late you got home the night before and how hungover you are this morning, you still always brush your teeth, wash your face, and get up at a reasonable hour to make your bed.
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Diana Tsui is a stylist and writer living in New York City. She also writes for The New York Times, W, Elle, and more. Previously she was the senior market editor at New York Magazine's The Cut.
