Since earlier than the barbaric age, brotherhood has been the foundation of friendships, companionship, and squads. Although these people are special in one’s life, there will forever be that one, which no friend, companion or squad can come between.

I received a sister on Nov. 12, 2000, the day my life ended, or so I thought. I was jealous! I was an only child who was constantly spoiled, loved and cared about, and I had all of the attention turned toward me. But that was to change as this five-pound, six-ounce alien was brought into my home. Constantly crying and throwing up, she smelt worse than the family dog. Everyone still loved her. People would want to pet her curly hair, tickle her, and play with her. There went all the attention, and I was left feeling like an old toy.

Being a boy with a sister is tough, you know. As she grew up, there were times that I had the urge to play sports, and she would rather play with Barbies. Her baby doll, “Sarah,” had to be taken everywhere with us until she was eight. When she turned two there were the dance classes, which were torture. Every day I had to wait for her to get out and all day long I had to hear about how they plied.

Those were twelve years of my life that I will never get back. Then, when she turned six, two things came out: first, the newest edition of the iPod Nano, and, second, Hannah Montana. I can remember hours and hours of “Best of Both Worlds” playing on my mom’s new Nano, and every day when I would want to watch a real show like “Tom and Jerry,” she would get the remote and, we would watch the double life of a teenage girl. Fascinating.

You learn that, when you have a sister, suddenly nothing is “yours” anymore. Some years would go by, and there wasn't much change really other than Justin Bieber becoming a new torture device. Twelve was a good age. The circus was in town and dropped one of their clowns off at my house. She was discovering makeup and that was a sight to see. I wonder to this day, does she not look back and ask herself, “What was I thinking?”

The worst of the years were yet to come. This phase was what I like to call “The Insane Boy Craze Phase.” I am a baseball player, so I was surrounded by guys all the time. Some of them are pretty ugly ones, in fact. But, for some odd reason, my sister was actually watching the games for once. Normally she would go and play on the playground at the parks or something like that; but, no, this time, I thought she was being a good sister. I was wrong. The only reason she was actually interested was because of this guy on my team whom she nicknamed “Cutie.” The problem was that the one she called “Cutie” changed almost every game. Then it just turned into “the whole team is hot.” There were times I wondered why on earth God made such a vile creature.

Things are changing now. I am off to college, making new friends, companions and, squads. I have to say that I am obtaining much knowledge and experiencing things like I never have. However, there is the constant awareness that something is missing. I left during a critical time in her life. She is experiencing high school — new friends, new hobbies, relationships, heartbreaks — and is soon to get her license. This is a scary, but also fun and exciting, time for her.

All the years that she annoyingly followed me around, and dug under my skin — I understand it now. It was when she, Mom and Dad dropped me off at college, and I went to hug her goodbye that I noticed that my life did not end the day that she was born, but was fulfilled the day I got to be her big brother. God put me on this earth before her, to make the mistakes, to find out what was right, and what was wrong, and how to do something, and why to do something, all just to help guide her along the way. She grew up watching me and learning from me.

Some things I wish I would have taught her better, and some things I wish I wouldn’t have taught her at all. Yet I will forever be there to guide her through anything her heart desires. As I sit at my desk writing this, all I can think about is how proud I am to say that I am her big brother. I have watched her grow and prosper into a beautiful, kind and intelligent young lady. Although she is prettier than I am, I am glad to say that she has grown up to be an image of myself.

Finally, some advice to all of the older brothers in the world. You may have heard the saying, “Act of Brotherhood,” meaning to be a trusted brother. I have to disagree with the known saying and create my own. Raphael’s historic painting "The School of Athens" demonstrates two philosophical schools that diverged, gaining wisdom from each other and thereby changing history. This occurrence is similar to that of being a brother. Your younger sibling grows up by your side, learning and admiring you. Although there are differences between you, you set examples for each other, which act as guidance to change your sibling's life, creating the “Art of Brotherhood."

Now do yourself and your sibling a favor. Come to each other and thank one another for the times she or he has been there. Because trust me, it is the times she or he isn't that you would give anything for her or him to be.

P.S. I love you, Sis.