Jaleel White just hit a proud dad milestone, his daughter Samaya has turned sweet 16!

On Thursday, Aug. 14, the Family Matters alum marked the big day by sharing a heartfelt tribute and a series of throwback photos on Instagram. White, who shares Samaya with ex-girlfriend Bridget Hardy, posted snapshots ranging from family ski trips to birthday celebrations through the years, including a sweet father-daughter picture taken on her special day.

White began his caption of the carousel of images, “Welp…that came fast, a certain one and only daughter of mine turned 16 today.” He continued, “I thank your soul daily for choosing me to be your chief provider and protector. For all that you’ve done to raise my consciousness you owe me nothing, Sweetie. My heart is full The greatest gift you can bestow upon me from this moment on is staying mindful to become the absolute best version of YOU.”

The actor closed with a wish every parent can relate to, “I hope ur smiling from ear to ear all day long, HAPPY SWEET 16, BABYGIRL.”

Although White is unquestionably a household name and face, the actor has always made it clear that his biggest role is being Samaya’s dad. In a 2019 interview with Fox News, he explained that his career choices are often inspired by her.

“You get different motivating factors in your life, period. I think my biggest motivating factor right now is my daughter,” he said at the time. “You got to provide an example for your kids. They watch you more than they listen to you.”

White added that Samaya sees the work that goes into his career. “So, she sees me go to work, she sees me continuing to act, continue to endeavor, staying up late nights, writing, taking pitch meetings, traveling for my job. And those are the things that are going to instill a work ethic in her. So, I got to be her inspiration right now. And that’s one of the things that keeps me steadfast.”

As Samaya enters this new chapter in life, celebrating her milestone birthday, White’s message was clear, his “heart is full,” and his focus is on cheering her on as she continues to grow into her best self.

Photo Credit: Jaleel White Instagram