As any older sister would be, I was annoyed when my little brother decided to attend the same college as me. I mean, come on — there are around 5,000 other schools that he could have gone to and he had to choose Rowan University. I get it, I'm a pretty awesome big sister, but we spent a solid 16 years together already. Wasn't he tired of me? But after a while of freaking out over him joining me on my incredible journey of independence, I started to realize that it could be fun.
Now as I approach my senior year (yes, I'm old/want to cry about graduating), I've survived two semesters with my brother tagging along. Now, I can honestly say that it wasn't all that bad... It was actually the best thing to happen.
Here are some of the many reasons why having your younger brother with you at college isn't actually horrible.
1. You always have someone to drive home with.
It gets pretty boring driving alone all the time. So it's pretty great when you have your little brother along for the ride, even if he never offers to drive and you have to listen to rap all the way home.
2. You never have to eat alone.
Going to the cafe alone is obviously not an option, at least for me. So now when your friends are in class or too hungover to move from bed, you have someone else to go with. Also, he will also always make that midnight WaWa or Dominoes trip with you.
3. Your parents will definitely visit more.
Now that two of their kids are in college and conveniently at the same one, they'll come to see you more. And let's be honest, who doesn't want free groceries and to be taken out for dinner? The answer is no one.
4. He can bring you stuff when you're on campus.
Did you forget your phone charger in your apartment or desperately need coffee delivered to you. Well, now you have someone in the freshman dorms who is close enough to bring it to you. Personally, my brother and I are still working on this one, but I have high hopes that one day he'll bring me that venti caramel iced coffee I asked for four and a half months ago.
5. You get to help him find his way and watch him branch out.
Of course, you have to show him around the first week or two, but it's fun to introduce him to your friends and the place you've been calling home. Bring him out the first night to show him the fun parties and make sure he doesn't oversleep and miss his first class. Then, once you show him the ropes, you get to watch him settle in, branch out, and make his friends.
6. He's always there to give you an honest opinion.
He surprisingly may have the best advice. He has known you the longest, knows basically everything about you, and isn't afraid of making you angry. So he will tell you when the guy you're talking to is a complete jerk or when you're just being an emotional mess and "need to find your chill."
7. There will never be a dull moment.
You will always have someone to go out with and who will most definitely not have only two drinks. He'll always be calling you for a ride or directions because he's lost. Then, after that, he'll tell you all about how he broke his foot and ate dinner with a random family. So there is absolutely no chance that you will ever be bored.
Yes, you're going to have to deal with the annoyance of driving him everywhere and giving him your meal swipes because he yet again lost his wallet, but you are going to love having him there. My brother and I still have our fights (we're currently on day six of ignoring each other), but college has brought us closer. So don't be too annoyed when your brother follows in your footsteps because you get to experience the best years of your life together. After all, while you're at school, he's going to be that little piece of home when you need it the most.
