Ever since I can remember, my brother and I have been in competition with one another.

Being three years apart, it wasn't uncommon for him to have the same teacher or play the same sports as me. Our parents never treated us that differently, so I never focused on our age. I treated him as my equal, which is why I always wanted to be better.

Competition isn't anything new to my family. Almost every one of my family members has competed on some team or has had their own form of family rivalry, so when I grew up it wasn't anything new. My brother and I compete at almost anything, and I mean anything.

We compete against each other when we race to our car, when we play Chutes & Ladders/tennis/war (a card game based on sheer luck). There constantly has to be ground rules set before we start anything that could potentially have a winner and a loser, and don't even get me started on the taunting that happens when one of us actually wins. As soon as a winner is decided, the loser starts plotting some scheme where they can come out victorious.

For the 17 years that we've both been alive, our parents have had to endure every second of our contests.

When we were younger and the rivalry would turn into tantrums and fights on a constant basis, I can understand why our parents would've considered shipping us off to another family at certain times. Now I think, at this point, they've given up scolding us and now understand that this is just a part of who we are, what our relationship is and what it always will be.

Even though my brother and I are always competing, we've created a certain bond that other siblings don't exactly understand. We know when the other one is trying to push our buttons and start competing. We know each other's signature moves and have learned how to prepare for them. We know what we're even thinking about when we both walk into the kitchen.

I didn't realize how unique our bond is until I started talking with my friends who have siblings and realized that their every move doesn't revolve around competing with their sibling. Yes, they have the normal fight once in a while and want to do better on their English paper, but no one really reaches my level. I'm starting to realize that I like it that way.

While I used to wish that my brother was actually a sister and that he would just do everything I say, I've learned to appreciate our relationship over the past 17 years and know I wouldn't trade it for anything else.