Having a brother is much more than it seems. When most people hear the word "brother", they think of their family member that they share the same parent(s) with. But to me, having a brother is much more than just another branch on my family tree.

An older brother is your first friend, your forever friend. He is his sisters biggest protector, supporter and critic. With no hesitation, he will bluntly let you know when you're doing something great, and when you're making an off the wall decision. He will help you every step of the way down the right path, and help you get back on track when things start to get rocky. He will encourage you to be the best person you can be, because he knows your potential and all that you are capable of.

And when it comes to boys....nobody is good enough for his sister. When he sees you dressed up, he will play 20 questions. "Where are you going?" "What's his name?" "When will you be home?" "How old is he?" "Does he go to school?" "What about a job?" "Can you please go back upstairs and cover your shoulders, you're showing too much skin. Do you still have that turtle neck from 2006? That would be appropriate." All of these questions just to get a phone call or text letting him know how it went, when the majority of the time, you just say good because you know he already has a shot gun loaded and he's a good aim. The last thing your brother wants, is to see you anything less than happy. If by chance you bring the guy home to meet your family, your brother is the first one to show pictures from your embarrassing elementary school days, and loves to share the story of when you wore headgear and could've been the cover of ProActive.

As you grow older, you both become busier and busier by the day and it seems so hard to find time in your schedule to have brother-sister time. When you finally get together, it's like you haven't been apart for a week. The laughs start, the jokes, the walk down memory lane that's always a blast from the past, the constant "who are you texting?" Catching up and realizing how you play such a big, important role in each other's lives. There is no stronger bond than the bond between a brother and sister.