Now that I have your attention. It’s time we all be a little more honest with one another. While we may occasionally act like we don’t need them, we wouldn’t be able to survive without our older siblings. I myself have an older sister. She’s almost four years older than me, and I genuinely can’t imagine what my life would be like without her for millions of different reasons.
Without her, I would never know what I could get away with or not with our parents (not that I could get away with much). She taught me to learn from her mistakes and what to do instead. This didn’t just apply to getting away with things, it applied to everything. She told me which teachers to take and which ones to avoid, what extracurriculars were worth my time and which ones to skip out on, and when it was time to walk away from a situation.
On top of being a teacher of life advice, she taught me a lot about how to present myself. She never let me walk out of the house looking like a mess. If I ever needed outfit advice (or a closet to steal from), she was right next door or a FaceTime away. During my sorority recruitment experience, not only did she help me buy makeup and give me a step-by-step process on how to do it, but she also called me right before the first round to make sure it all looked good. While at the time I may not have realized it, she did this because she cared, not because my parents told her she had to. While I may not have been able to give advice on her makeup or outfits, my closet was just as open to her as hers was to mine, even if she was the one with better choices.
My sister is more than just the person I can go to for advice; she’s the person I look up to. While I often struggle to admit it, I wouldn’t be where I am today without her by my side. She’s had an influence on most (if not all) of my major life choices. I went to camp because she went. I joined a sorority because she loved her experience. I took a closer look at Florida State University because I heard nothing but good things from her. I ran for my sorority’s executive board because she thought I had it in me from the moment I joined, and so much more. My sister is my teacher, my mentor, my biggest supporter, and my best friend. Without her, I don’t know where I would be in life.
So, younger siblings, it’s time to actually listen up. Send your older brother or sister a text, hug them, or go to lunch with them. We all need to embrace the fact that without our older siblings, we would be in a much different place than we all currently are. It may seem tricky to remind them that you love them, especially when we may be in different places in life, but they are the ones who are going to stick by our side through thick and thin.
And while I may not say it enough, Abigail, thank you for everything. I love you more than you could know. Sincerely, your younger sister.
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