Growing up, I have always looked up to my bigger sister, Shelby. I have always wanted to do everything she did. She was my role model and I always knew that I could trust her with anything. My sister was diagnosed with a mental disability from birth but that didn't change how I looked at her. She is still my sister and I wouldn't trade her for anyone else.
Throughout Shelby's life, many people told her that she wouldn't be able to do all the things a "normal" person could do. Every time someone told Shelby that, she would do everything she could to prove them wrong. Because of Shelby's disability, I sometimes have to be like the older sister in certain cases. A certain event that comes to mind is when my sister has to dress up for a special occasion. She has always come to me for advice on what to wear or how to do her makeup. Many siblings would probably get annoyed with each other at that point but I don't think I have ever been happier knowing that my older sister wants my advice on something.
During my senior year of high school, I got my acceptance letter into Luther College and that was very exciting for me, but my sister, on the other hand, was upset that I was going to college and she wasn't. She could tell that I was going to go somewhere and grow up and move out and she didn't think that was fair, but that didn't stop her. My sister fought for a long time and this past summer she attended Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin. They have been teaching her how to read and write and she is planning on starting to take photography classes with them as well.
My parents have been a major asset to me and my sister growing up together. I can't thank them enough for raising us like they did. My sister may be different but that does not mean that she is weird. She is just like everyone else out there, but most of the time I see her as almost too nice. She never stays mad at you; she will protect you with her life. Shelby is not the bravest person in the word but if you hurt someone who she loves or is close to, you will regret that. Like I said, she will not stay mad at you because she is such a loving and forgiving person, but she will let you know that you crossed the line when you mess with her family.
Shelby has been my best friend for the past 18 years and I cannot imagine where I would be without her. She has taught me how to be humble and to love others unconditionally. She has taught me to not care what people think and to just go out into the word and be me. I am so lucky that I have gotten to live with my best friend for the past 18 years, and now that I am in college I realize how much harder it is to be away from her, but being away has also taught to appreciate the little moments that I get to spend with her and my parents.
