I am so sorry I left you alone with mom and dad. I really am.

I’ve lately been feeling like I don’t tell you how much I love and admire you as I should. I probably took living across the hall from you for 18 years for granted. Living a total of 2 steps away from each other gave me the constant chance to pop into your room and talk or rant or laugh or cry together. I knew I would see you at least in passing everyday and every conversation ended in an “I love you see you later”. Moving 200 miles away for college, I don’t have the privilege of seeing you everyday. And I miss you. And I love you.

I am so lucky to have you. I really don't think I could ever handle the life of an only child. You make my smile on bad days, and scream lyrics with me in the car, and listen to me when mom and dad are frustrating me, and snapchat me the most ridiculous selfies, and introduce me to new music everyday, and are always down to go on an adventure with me. You are my built in best friend. And I couldn't imagine anyone better for the job.

You may be my little sister but I look up to you in more ways than you may ever know. The strength, determination, and motivation you apply to every thing you start, whether academic, athletic, or other, is incredibly inspiring. I cannot imagine a more dedicated person than you. You also have this incredible sense of yourself that I am still looking for in myself and that I definitely did not have as a sophomore in high school. You know who you are, what is important to you, what you believe in and, more importantly, you defend your thoughts and beliefs and I hope that that never changes. I am so lucky to have you to look up to and I cannot wait to watch as you grow more and more into yourself.

So I said earlier that I was sorry I left you alone with mom and dad. And I am. I am sorry I’m not there anymore as a buffer at family dinners or car rides. I’m sorry I can’t have your back the way I can when I’m home. I’m also sorry that you probably now have to empty the whole dishwasher instead of only half. Having all of the attention on you all the time probably isn’t very easy so I’m sorry I had to leave. That being said, mom and dad really do know best. They can be incredibly frustrating and annoying sometimes but they really do have useful insight. Go to mom with your problems. She understands a lot more than you think she would. And even though dad finds every opportunity to turn a casual talk into a motivational speech, good advice usually does come out of it.

But when mom and dad don’t get it, or even when they do, I’m a phone call away. Everything you’re going through, I went through also and am here always to listen and talk. High school is crazy. I've been there and I do have some advice.

Be a leader, not a follower.

You may be younger than me but I look up to you. You are constantly surprising and inspiring me. Be that person for others. Life is a lot more fun when you march to the beat of your own drum.

Put your friends first.

Your friends are extremely important. Never, ever, ever put a boy ahead of them. Your friends will be there in the long run and the boy probably won't be. Don't miss out on memories with your friends chasing someone temporary.

Think twice.

Things you do and say have a tendency to follow you - especially now when everything you do is documented. So mean what you say and stand behind what you do. Have fun, but be safe.

High school doesn't last forever.

While that might not necessarily be advice, I really mean to say that high school is crazy and dramatic. But it doesn't last forever. Enjoy the crazy. You will look back on those memories later. Don't stress over the drama. It probably isn't THAT important, it will pass.

No matter how tall or old you get you will always be my little sister and I could not be luckier to be stuck with you forever.

I love you and I miss you. Never forget that. I’ll see you Thanksgiving.

xoxo