Dear Mei,

First of all, I would like to thank you for putting up with me for the past seventeen years. Thank you for being there for me during the highs and lows of my life. Thank you for inspiring me to work hard and become a better person.

Most of all, I would like to say that I am proud of you. You have done things that most people in this world could only dream of doing. Your high school career was highlighted with two years of being part of the National Youth Orchestra (where you traveled to several countries in Europe and to China), a trip to Washington D.C. to play with The President's Own as the winner of their high school concerto competition, and being featured for On The Top. You had the opportunity to attend one of the most elite high schools in the nation for three years: Interlochen Arts Academy.

The hours, days, weeks, and years you spent in rehearsal and the practice rooms have paid off. You are now going to a world class conservatory (Juilliard) where you will mingle with some of the most elite college musicians and professors in the country and the world. Your future is bright: in five years, I might see you playing in a major world-class orchestra.

Right now, I really miss you. I hope that you feel the same way about me. Going to college on the opposite end of the country is difficult. I know three years of boarding school up north helped you become more independent. You learned the basics of doing your own laundry, keeping your dorm room clean, balancing academics and music, taking care of yourself, and studying with little or no assistance. But I am sure you will probably feel a little homesick at Juilliard anyway. You will miss mama's home cooked meals (I know I do). You will miss watching papa look like a fool on Saturdays and Sundays as he watches college and professional football games.

There's also the reality that if papa wants to visit you or you want to come back home, you or papa will have to buy a plane ticket. I know that airports are definitely nothing new to you, but going through security and flying in general is a mix of stress and boredom no matter how experienced you are. I know you're probably very jealous of me because for the past four years, papa could watch my concerts live and drive me home and to TCU very easily. If you forget something or run out of shampoo etc., that you will have to either ask mama to ship you what you need or buy it at a really high price at the nearest supermarket/convenience store (and I'm sure that the prices for items at NYC stores/markets makes the Kroger near TCU look like Walmart). At the end of the year when you move out, you will either have to buy a storage unit or pack everything up in a couple of huge suitcases and pay some hefty checked bag fees. You will probably most likely get a job. You will learn how to spend your money wisely as well.

I'm sure you know that things in New York City are completely different than in Texas. You probably learned that people don't hold the door as often for others. Although this custom is associated as Southern hospitality, it is really basic manners/common courtesy. Unlike Texas, where college football is life on Saturdays, you will be focusing your Saturdays on homework and practicing or maybe taking a trip to the beach (yay!). In fact, I know you're probably proud of the fact that Juilliard has the "winningest football team of all time" or most likely you could care less. NYC will have every single type of food in the world. So maybe you won't miss out on the comfort food that is so common down south. And you got really lucky with your housing arrangement: your dormitory is up on the twenty first floor and is not even a quarter of the size of a TCU room in Milton Daniel (Yes, I know you're really jealous about that). But the perks of living that high up is that you will stay in shape. Finally, let's not even talk about how miserably cold it gets up there in the winter time. I just hope you are prepared for it. Then again, when you come back home for Christmas, I know that you will complain about how "hot" Texas is during the winter.

I wish you that you have a fabulous freshman year at Juilliard. Study hard, manage your time wisely, make good choices, associate with people that push you to be better (and avoid the people who will force you to lower your standards), go the extra mile, give it all you got, practice like there's no tomorrow, see the good in every single person, and never give up on God. I would like you to "be the very best that no one ever was" (Pokemon).

Love,

Your Big Sister,

Miku