Our teenage years are years full of smiles, growth spurts, high school, relationships, friendships, and most of all: hormones. Many of us have already forgotten what that was like because we are already feeling so old. But for those of us that have a teenage sibling (especially a sister), we have constant reminders every day.

Recently, my younger sister just started high school. She has gotten her first mini dose of "adulting." While she has been going through this transition, I have been away at college and have left my parents to deal with it (lucky me, right?). But since I haven't been around much, I wanted to share some thoughts and advice to her, and also anyone else with younger sisters who may be going through the same situation.

First off,

You are an unique human being. Throughout my years of life, I have never met anyone like you or relatively close. You have a truly light heart and are full of laughter and happiness. Never steer away from that.

As you enter through the same high school doors I once did, I want you to remember how truly unique you are. I don't want you to feel as if you are following in my footsteps, or you have a reputation to live up to. Do not let my successes or my failures be yours because these next four years are for you to make your own marks on our little town. So you do your brown to blond ombre hair, dress like a boy every day, and run cross country.

Second,

Don't take life too seriously at this age, You have a way of making the smallest situations stretch into problems that aren't quite there. Just sit back, relax, and take in breaths of fresh air. High school isn't going to be as stressful as you think it is. The classes will start to flow, your schedule will sort itself out, and you'll eventually start driving (stop growing up).

At nearly fifteen years old, you cannot take everything seriously. Take every situation as an opportunity and not a problem. Find all of the positives in everything and stop looking at the negatives. Life is like math, there is always an answer, no matter how you try and solve it. So take the easier path.

Third,

Don't give mom and dad such a hard time. I know I am the last one to talk because I have given them my fair share of difficulties, but they truly are there for you and just trying to help. I know it might be hard to see but they just want you to be the best you you can be. The chores may seem dumb and a waste of time, but when you move into college one day, you'll be glad you were forced to learn how to clean and do it well. My dorm room sink says thank you.

Fourth and most of all,

Thank you for being a good friend to me, outside of being my sister. We may not say it enough to each other, but I appreciate you and everything you have and continue to do for me. From helping me throughout the days after surgery to being my date when I don't want to eat mom's food. You are a truly special person in my heart and I don't know what I would do without you.

Five years may separate us, we may have different dads, and you can drive me absolutely crazy sometimes, but no matter what, you'll always be the best sister I could ever have (even if I did have another one).