This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Utah chapter.

Men can be absolutely incredible, and while the women in our lives are also amazing, I think the men deserve some recognition for helping us to become the amazing people we truly are. I love the men in my life, and this article is for them. These are 15 of the many reasons why we should all appreciate the men in our lives.

They always know when someone’s not good enough for you

Always. The men in my life will always know when someone is not good enough for me, and I will always love them for that. Whenever I go through a break-up, my brothers will always be there to put it all in perspective, and make everything better. The men in my life will tell me what I want to hear, and point out all of the guy’s flaws. They will make sure I know he wasn’t good enough for me. We all need these incredible people to rely on when times get rough.

Being the example of how men should treat you

We all deserve to be the apple of someone’s eye, and we all deserve to have someone treat us well. My dad is a very incredible and caring man. Growing up, I was always his “sweetie,” and he never let me forget that no man was good enough for me. I knew he would always be there to handle any man who tried to hurt me. The men in my life all treat me with respect (and a little bit of sass), and they are all great examples of how a man should treat a woman.

Laughing at your jokes even when they aren’t funny

Sure, they may be laughing at my jokes because what I said was so dumb that they just had to laugh, but at least they are laughing. No matter how dumb the joke or pun is, the extraordinary men in my life always manage to chuckle when I tell a joke (or they say something snarky and we have a good laugh about it anyway). I will always love them for this.

Giving you a sense of humor

The men in my life have given me a sarcastic sense of humor. My whole family has this same sense of humor and I love that about us. Everyone should have people that they can laugh and joke with because laughter truly is the best medicine.

For putting up with your sass

Everyone needs a person that can put up with their sass, otherwise, nobody would have any friends. My whole family can be pretty sassy, but no matter what is said, the men in my life always manage to put up with this sass. My father has put up with the sass of my siblings and me for close to 20 years, and I think he is incredible for doing so. He always knows when to laugh it off and when to put us in our place after we cross a line. He really is superhuman.

For being your chauffeur for at least 15 years of your life

We all need someone to drive us around for the first 15 years of our lives, and for some reason, that person always seems to be the amazing men in our lives. My father drove my brothers and I everywhere (and still does a lot of the time), until my oldest brother got his license. Then the job of chauffeur got passed between them, and I couldn’t be more grateful. These incredible men drove me home from every school event, play, and friends house at any hour of the day. Even though I know they both really love to drive, they really are incredible people for doing so.

For introducing you to almost all the geeky things you are into

We all have a nerdy side, and I believe that this side of us comes from the amazing men in our lives. My brothers, father, step-father, and cousins are definitely the reason that I love things like Harry Potter, Star Wars, Skyrim, Minecraft, Pokemon, The Legend of Zelda, and Game of Thrones, and I will always be grateful for this.

For making you laugh

No matter what mood I am in, or how sad I am, the astounding men in my life have always been able to make me laugh. While we might have a darker and more judgmental sense of humor, these men have never failed to make me smile and I love them for that. We always need someone to give us a good laugh every once in a while.

They go out of their way for you

Everybody needs a person that would do just about anything for them. I know the men in my life wouldn’t hesitate to get me ice cream when I am feeling down, or play a game with me when I am feeling bored, or even lend me their coat when I am feeling cold. The men in my life would go out of their way for me in a heartbeat and I think they are awesome because of this.

They’re your biggest supporters

We all need a good support system to grow into fantastic human beings. Sure, your mom always comes to every event and is always there to support you, but I believe the biggest supporter in life is a little brother. My little brother has always supported me and idolized me. He supported me through every dumb idea I have ever had (like when we decided to play catch with rocks at age 9), every game I have ever made up (like when we would play with our Webkinz in the car), and every decision I have ever made. I love having such a strong support system, and I will never stop trying to support him the way he supports me.

You can pick up anytime, even if you haven’t talked in weeks

Sometimes we just need a person to talk to, and there is no better person for this than a brother. My older brother and I have always been very close, and no matter how long it has been since we last talked, we can always manage to talk for hours. A brother will always be able to pick up, even if you haven’t talked in weeks, and it will be as if you have only been apart for seconds. Older brothers are incredible.

For always being one phone call away

You don’t realize how lucky you are to see your dad, mom, and siblings every day until you leave home. It is necessary to have a person who can pick up at any time and be there for you. My father has always been available for me, and I think that is incredible. It is very comforting to know that I am never truly alone.

For loving you just the way you are

The wonderful men in my life embrace every one of my flaws, quirks, and strange mannerisms. No matter how goofy I am acting, or how I look, the men in my life have always stood by me and loved me. I believe every person needs someone like this, because it is a beautiful thing, and it is an amazing feeling to know that you are unconditionally loved.

They are always there to protect you

I believe we all need protectors. I know the men in my life would stand up for me without giving it a second thought. They would protect me in any situation, and they always have. Whether they were walking outside with me to protect me from the creatures that lurked in the night, protecting me from the bullies at school, or getting rid of a spider for me, the men in my life have always been there, and they always will be there to hold my hand when things go bad.

You need someone who always believes in you

Everyone needs this. We all need people who believe that we can do anything we put our minds to. For me, these people are the men in my life. They have always stood by me and supported me, and I know they will continue to do so. I will always be grateful for my father, brothers, step-father, uncles, cousins, and grandfathers, and I can’t even begin to imagine the person I would be today if they weren’t there to support me and believe in me. The men in my life are incredible, and I will always cherish the things they have taught me.

I love the men in my life, and I hope the rest of you take the time to appreciate the men in your life too.

Photo Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

15 Reasons Why I Appreciate the Men in My Life