Two things I think my dad did right when he was raising us:

(1) Give me a modicum of freedom to do what I wanted in high school

We had a deal: My dad wanted me to get into a good school for college, so as long as long as I kept my grades up high, and continued doing my community service at the library (for college apps), to some extent, he didn't really care what I did (as long as I didn't get send to jail or something).

So I could come home and watch cartoons and play video games before starting my homework. I could go to my friends' places late at night. I could have friends over any time I wanted...

...as long as I kept getting straight As in high school.

I remember one time staying up til like 4 AM working on a some stupid "memory box" for my senior English class, because I had put it off to the last minute (I decided to play diablo 2 with my friends instead of working on it). It really taught me to be responsible for my own actions and choices. I think this was a major reason why I didn't get into as much trouble as some of the people I knew in college.

(2) Instill a physically active lifestyle for his kids.

Every weekend, my dad would take us to the park or the local community college to run around, play basketball and tennis, run up and down the stadium stairs, etc.

Exercise wasn’t just a healthy habit, it was fun and enjoyable. So now that I’m a bit older, I still love playing basketball and tennis, and will even go out on runs just to get my heart rate going. Yeah it’s a bit miserable breathing hard and having sweat flow down your face, but it’s still a lot of fun for me. It makes me feel like I’m a little kid.