Yes, I know we are only a year and a half apart, but I still like calling you my "little" brother as much as I can. I'm not here to emphasize our age gap, but to let you know how important you are to me.

I am finally done with my first year of college, and I can truthfully say, no one here gets my humor quite as much as you do. I know sometimes I can act too motherly, but it’s only because I have your truest and best interests at heart. You are my best friend, my rock and honestly, I don’t know where I would be to this day if I didn’t have you. While growing up, I have created so many memories that when the time came to leave for college, and us putting a pause on those memories, I couldn’t lie and tell you that wasn’t one of the hardest things about leaving home. From attempting to cook whatever we could get our hands on, to knowing the words to every single Chris Brown song that has ever existed, and driving around with me for hours after I got my license...you exist for a very specific reason. You’re one of the most hard working people I know. From making every baseball team you try out for to Varsity baseball swinger only your sophomore year of high school, I am so proud of everything you have become at only 17-years-old.

I know I’m thousands of miles away for most of the year, and sometimes it makes talking a tad harder, but we still make the effort. You’re one of the smartest and kindest people in the world. I was trying to think of a phrase that truly explained you and I finally figured it out, you make the hard times easy. From taking those two hour drives to our cabin, to mom making us walk the dog and run her errands, there is no one else I would rather blast music out of the car with on summer days.

I remember when I left for school, it was one of the first times I had seen you cry. All summer you joked around about how fun it would to be the only child in the house, but I knew you would miss me, no matter how many times you denied it. From the way you looked at me, tears falling from your face as I walked away from the car and into my dorm, to the texts you sent me only a couple minutes after, right then did I realize how much I depend on you.

Yes, I talk about you and your accomplishments sometimes too much here at school, and my friends know almost everything about you and they’ve never even met you, but I think that everything you do is outstanding. Along with that, I cannot even begin to tell you how proud I am of who you have matured into and become. Do you realize how much of an amazing athlete you are? I tell my friends to watch out because one day you’ll be in the MLB, being the most paid pitcher in the league. They laugh and tell me to stop being so dramatic, but I think once they saw you on the mound they would truly understand. This isn’t a “thank you for everything you have done”, but more like a "thank you for everything you continue to do for me."

I love you!

Sincerely,

Your big sister