First of all, congrats, little brother; you’ve made it! You survived. After four years of uniforms, waking up at 6 a.m., getting detention for not having your shirt tucked in, and eating way too many of those melted warm cookies from the cafeteria, you are about to graduate from high school. I am so extremely proud of you in ways I can’t even put into words.
It’s weird to think that you’re not the little kid who threw up on my shoes when you were five and used to play with Power Ranger action figures with me. You are now an adult that is almost a foot taller than me and could easily take me in a fight.
So here we are. Not only are you about to graduate, but you are about to enter the best four years of your life, better known as college, and that makes me jealous but also extremely excited for you. High school graduation feels like a lifetime away, but I know when I graduated, I thought I knew everything and that I was fully prepared for college life. Three years later, I am fully aware of how wrong I was. With this in mind, I have some advice for you. I know you might not listen, but as your big sister, I feel the compelling need to say these things anyway.
1. Avoid 8 a.m. classes like the plague.
You might think you can handle them but you can’t.
2. Be a good roommate.
You’re sharing a confined space with another human for the first time, so just have some common courtesy. Don't be loud when they're sleeping and don't steal their food. It's not that hard.
3. Don’t be that guy who emails the whole class saying he needs notes because he “was sick."
Everyone hates that guy. He’s the worst.
4. On that note, actually go to class.
It’s important and mom and dad aren’t shelling out thousands of dollars for you to sleep in. That’s what they’re paying for me to do, obviously.
5. On the other hand, if you do skip class, it’s not the end of the world.
You’ll remember the day you skipped class to go do something spontaneous with your friends much more than you’ll remember that one lecture.
6. Stay in touch with your friends from home.
You’re going to get busy, but if they actually mean anything to you, you’ll text them every once in awhile.
7. Be nice to girls.
So help me, I know where you live, so don’t ever let me find out you were anything but nice to the girls at your school.
8. Don’t be afraid to feel homesick.
Just because you’re a guy and you think you’re tough doesn’t mean that you won’t miss being home in your bed thousands of miles away. It happens, it’s normal.
9. It’s okay to change and grow.
That’s what college is for. Embrace it. If you graduate four years later as the exact same person you were when you started, then you missed the whole point of college.
10. Call mom and dad.
They’re going to be lost without you, and I know you hate talking on the phone, but for the love of God call them, please.
11. Call me, too.
I enjoy phone calls and I want to hear how you're doing, too!
12. Time flies, so take it all in.
You are beyond lucky to be starting college right now, and I wish I could trade places with you and do it all over again. Enjoy everything while it’s happening and don't take it for granted.
So happy graduation, kiddo! We are all so proud of you and everything you've done, and I can't wait to see all of the amazing things you do. Roll Dawgs!
Love, Your Big Sister
