Being the youngest sister I was always expected to follow in my sisters footsteps. I was expected to be like them in school, sports, and even my looks. I was compared to them in every way, anywhere I went. Well, that never happened-- yes, my sisters and I all have similar qualities, but we are all completely different people.
Growing up, we were all very thin and taller than most. As we grew up, my sisters continued to sprout upwards and I continued to sprout outwards. I was never recognized as their sister because I looked differently. I had teachers not know that I was related to them until they saw my last name, and some didn't believe me when I said that they were my sisters.
One thing that will forever stick with me is when an individual said to me, "Your sisters are so pretty and thin, what happened to you?" I remember just standing there and staring at them, not knowing how to respond, because I didn't.
As I got older, it got more apparent that I was not like my sisters. My sisters and I were very polite to others, always used manners, and respectful- but that is because of how we were raised. Personalities cannot be shaped by our parents or anyone else, everyone is different.
In high school, my sisters were the star athletes. They came in their freshman years of high school and helped our softball team get to districts, and states- the farthest the team has ever gotten. They were pitchers, so I was always expected to be one as well. Anytime anyone would find out there was a third sister, they'd always ask, "Is she a pitcher too?" I was actually a catcher for softball. I did the complete opposite because pitching was not for me.
My freshman year, I was put on varsity- with dual roles of sitting the bench on varsity and being called down to play for the JV team. It was hard for me having my dad as the head coach because he knew I should have been playing, but it wasn't always his decision. My freshman year I started in 4 games, and only played 2 complete games; and it never failed that when I played, a parent always made a comment out in the crowd- which my mom heard- about how I was only playing cause my dad was the coach and I was not as good as my sisters.
Not only did I have parents of players saying this about me- but to top it all off, I had an article written in the local newspaper about me-- how I was not as good at softball as my sisters and I would never go to a division-one college to play like they did.
Again- my sisters and I were different, we all brought different things to the table. Whether it be on the softball field, or at home. We all made an impact on people. But we all had different goals.
My sisters wanted to go D-1, I didn't. Casey wants to be a vet, I don't. Lauren and I both want to become teachers one day- different grades, but both teachers.
I've learned all through middle and high school to be my own person. To never follow in their footsteps and do what I want to do and love every second of it. I love the little D-3 school I am at right now, still playing softball, and frankly- kicking ass. I love my body and glad that I am not shaped the same as my sisters.
My sisters and I are best friends even though we are all different. That's what makes us special.
So to everyone who ever put me down because I was not like my sisters, thank you. Because you showed me to love myself even more, stay weird, and be myself.
