Have you ever gotten into fights with your siblings? Have you ever created an inside joke with your brother or sister? Have you ever camped in the backyard with them?

Maybe you have, maybe not. But for me, I have experienced all these memories and more. Having a good and crazy relationship with your brothers and sisters is so important, and though this is not the case with every family; they still shape your life.

Now think about having a twin. Not like Suite Life of Zach and Cody but something real. It's all of those experiences but with your other half. Literally. You can feel what they are feeling. You are able to "read their mind" (or I'd like to think so) and you have a unique connection. At this point, you may be wondering, how would you know so much about being a twin?

Well, I'm glad you asked.

I am a twin. It is a fact that confuses most new friends; either they already met my twin and didn't realize, or they claim they were never told. Then I think to myself, I definitely told you. It's always one of the first few things I tell people. I even put it on my two truths and a lie game. I believe I share this piece of information first since it is so meaningful to me. I would call my twin life special because we are different genders, so we never had to wear the same silly clothes in diverse colors. But regardless, as we grew older we were and are able to go our own way and still do things together.

I have met a lot of other twins in my life and no two are the same. Most are really close and enjoy each others company and I hope the positivity continues in their lives and passes onto other twins. But sadly, others don't talk or ever hang out with each other, however I hope that later in life they realize how cool and influential their twin really is.

Now, I'll admit my brother and I weren't always super close. In middle school we rarely expressed our feelings and during the school days we never saw each other in the hallways. It wasn't until our sophomore year in high school when we finally reflected how important our family was. I encouraged him to go to Operation Snowball with me and he was hesitant at first but soon was ecstatic by the experience. Not knowing anybody on the retreat allowed for us to stick together and grow.

There was one activity called "Life Prints," each person had to put their thumb print on another persons face to show that they impacted them in some way. After a friend of mine printed their thumb on my face, I knew exactly who I was going toward.

Walking across the rec hall, I saw my brother still sitting down and I took his hand and lifted him up. As I put the paint on his face, a smile lite our faces and I was happy he was my twin and that we would be there for each other. We didn't realize how much that weekend impacted us until we both wanted to go back. Every time we went to the retreat we each grew individually and as siblings.

I have gone through a lot with my twin and I cherish every moment. But now that we are both going our own ways for college later this month, it will be hard to start a new chapter of life without him by my side. I won't have him to lean on or when I'm sad make me laugh until I pee my pants. I hope the distance will show how fortunate I am to have my twin brother and my older brother in my life.

I wouldn't trade having a twin at all. I wouldn't trade my goofy, funny, annoying, and lovable twin brother. And working on or mending a relationship with your siblings is so important because they are the ones who will always be there for you. You don't have to go on a retreat with your siblings to reconnect with them, all you have to do is reach out.