I'm sure you've all heard the saying, "Distance makes the heart grow fonder." Normally it's associated with significant others enduring long distance relationships, but have you ever thought of it from a sibling aspect?

As I wrap up my first college winter break, I can't help but think of the miles I'm going to put between me and my brother in the next few days. I also can't help but think of how we've actually became closer since college started. Our sibling relationship has gotten stronger with the help of me going far away for school and to be honest, I could not be more thankful.

During high school, I remember my brother would always try to hang out with my friends and purposely annoy us. Now, it's completely different. We understand each other on an entirely new level and it's almost refreshing how little we bicker or fight. Since being home, I've found myself wanting to spend more time with him and soaking up every little minute before I have to return to school and not seeing him for another couple of months. I've discovered that we aren't tattletales on each other anymore but instead I find myself telling him all my crazy stories about my nights out and vice versa. We have an unspeakable bond of trust between us where I know we'll have each others' backs for years to come. Over the past few months, we've shared more laughs, tears, "I miss you's" and the ever occasional "I love you" more than we have ever before. I can only thank college for being such a blessing and without it our sibling bond would be completely different.