As the younger sister, I have the easier job. I have to listen to her when she's in charge, be nice, and stay out of her closet (oops). For my sister, however, being the eldest requires more than she probably would like. Add to my list of sibling obligations being patient, accepting responsibility, and setting a good example and you'll see my sister's job is the harder one. And though there are times when I don't show her how much I appreciate her, having her as a sister is a blessing worth writing about. Whenever people mention strong women, my sister is one that always comes to mind. She may not know it, but she is constantly teaching me how to be a strong woman. There's a lot I could list, but here are some of the life lessons on being a strong woman I learned from watching my sister.

1. Go after what you want.

My sister has always been a very determined person and whenever she wants something, she doesn't wait for someone to get it for her. She goes out and gets it herself. Things just don't fall in our laps after we wish for them, we have to go after what we want, whether it's a job or traveling to a place we've always wanted to visit. By going after what we want, we take charge of our lives and become strong women.

2. Confidence is the best make-up you'll ever wear.

My sister is a beautiful person whether she is wearing make-up or not, and part of this is because she is confident in herself. She stands tall and knows that only her view of herself matters. We all have bad days where nothing seems to go right and we have no idea why our hair won't just cooperate, but if we stand tall and believe we are beautiful, nobody can tell us that we aren't.

3. Find opportunities to be a leader

For me, this one is especially hard. Being assertive and taking charge is not something that a younger sibling is used so when it comes to being a leader, though my sister is a natural. Whether it's taking care of my brother and I or helping lead a group of college students on a mission trip, she knows how to lead people and get things done. There's more to being a leader than just being bossy (although I think that's the part she enjoys most). A good leader motivates people through encouragement and inspires them. In college, we can find opportunities all over campus that will help us become strong, successful leaders.

4. Be happy with your independence.

Part of what makes my sister a strong woman is how independent she is. She's not the type to complain about being single or rely on the person she's dating for her happiness. Instead, she is her own person. From her, I've learned to be my own person and to enjoy the time I have to work on myself. There is nothing wrong with focusing on figuring out where your future is headed before allowing someone else to be a part of it.

5. Try new things.

If it can be eaten, eat it. That is the philosophy of my sister who is a very adventurous eater. But besides her interest in trying new and strange foods, she's always wanting to try something new and exciting. College is the time for us to go out and try new things and take adventures we never knew we would. By trying new things, we get to know ourselves better and live new experiences.

6. Don't take yourself too seriously.

One of the qualities that I really admire about my sister is her ability to laugh at herself. Whenever I do something embarrassing, I tend to get quiet and turn red, hoping it doesn't haunt me for the rest of my life. My sister, on the other hand, is comfortable enough with herself that she just laughs along and she doesn't let it bother her. I think it's important that instead of taking ourselves too seriously during times of embarrassment, we should instead embrace a healthy sense of humor and learn to laugh along.

7. Be Honest

Being honest with people can be hard sometimes, which is probably why people opt out and go for the easier lie. My sister is honest with people. It's not in a blunt, tactless way, but in a way that is both real and caring. People need honesty, otherwise nothing would change. Real honesty doesn't try to sugarcoat truths, but it's not harsh either.

8. If the guy you're dating doesn't like your dog, pick the dog.

Okay, this is one is mostly just for laughs, but still very true! My sister and her dog are pretty much a package deal and in the battle of dog versus boyfriend, dog usually wins. After all, boys come and go, but your dog will love you forever!

For the many strong women in my life, including my mom, sister, auntie, and my grandmas. I love you!