Some may say that having a twin sister is both a blessing and a curse. Being a twin can have its downfalls, but I will always appreciate having someone to lean on. Having a twin sister as my best friend has changed my life for the better. Not only have I made a best friend, but I have also grown and matured into my own person. My sister has shown me what unconditional love feels like and I cannot thank her enough.
As a young girl, having a twin seemed to be complete torture. Because my sister and I went to the same school and often had the same friend groups until college, people always compared us. People would compare not only our physical appearances, but also our personalities. We have played soccer for about 15 years and even our coaches could not help but compare us. It was a habit for everyone we came into contact with to treat us as "one" instead of two separate individuals.
Up until college, my sister and I never seemed to have our own individual identity. The constant analyzations and comparisons created conflict between us. We would fight every day because we would subconsciously compete with one another because everyone around us was doing the same. It then turned into a habit for my sister and I to compete over everything. From sports to grades, everything turned into a competition. It seemed almost impossible to control it.
This created a lot of anger and frustration. Often, neither or us knew how to control these extreme emotions because we kept them bottled up for years. Emotions turned into fights. Fights turned into unintentional words. Hurtful words turned into heartbreak. Heartbreak turned into hopelessness.
Some may say the decision of going to the same university as my twin sister was a mistake. However, I do not agree with that. College is a place for people to grow into themselves and find their purpose. The decision to go to the same school was one of the best choices I have ever made in my life. Going to the same university as my twin sister taught me that even though people sometimes need space, it is extremely beneficial to have a persistent support system. I always had my sister to turn to with just about anything. When having school or friend problems, we both were each other's supporters.
Going to a big school that consists of over 45,000 students only brought my sister and I closer. I had the option of finally making my own friend group and creating my own identity. I joined Sigma Kappa and met my life-long best friends. My sister made her own friends as well.
We both learned how to be apart while also continuing to be present for one another. We both realized and understood that being constantly together is not healthy for anyone. We both learned that no matter how much we fought, we would find each other again. And that's exactly what we did. It's incredible how much a person can grow, both physically and intellectually, in such a short amount of time. The time apart making our own memories has enabled us to appreciate each other even more.
A few years ago, I could not say that my sister was my best friend. But, after almost completing my second year of college, I can without a doubt say that my twin sister is my best friend. We have a special connection that I cannot achieve with anyone else.
Even when life got in the way, my sister was always there for me. I lost some of my closest friends, but she still remained. I suddenly realized that not everyone will stick around forever. Whether I had friends or not, I still had my sister. By being a twin, I have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. I have learned about love, passion, pain, acceptance and respect. I would not trade this experience for anything.
So, to my twin sister:
I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me. Thank you for being my constant supporter and the one I could always trust. Thank you for accepting me for all my flaws and helping me become a better person. I am so grateful to share a special day with someone as special as you. I love you forever.
