My life changed on April 25, 2006. On that day my little brother Wim (pronounced Vim) came into this world. I was only about nine at the time and couldn’t even begin to fathom what this change in my life meant. I was an only child for many years and then my mother remarried and I gained three older brothers and an older sister. To have older siblings was a big shift, but my life truly changed when my little brother was born. Every time I held him I just had a strange feeling course through my body that I could never fully describe or really identify. For most of my life I was only responsible for myself. When Wim was born, I suddenly became responsible for another human being. I changed his diapers, I fed him, I took a CPR class for him, I took him on walks, I made him laugh, I hugged him when he was sad, I tucked him in, but most of all, I was there for him. Every step I made and every decision I chose, he would see. I began to realize that at such a young age, I was going to be a role model in his life. But I couldn’t even begin to imagine how having him in my life would effect me.
Every morning I would wake up and go into Wim’s room and give him a good morning kiss. I would cradle him in my arms as a baby and when he got too big, I would simply give him the biggest hug I could. I would go to school and work my butt off in my studies because it wasn’t about just me anymore. It soon became about being the best role model I could be. It became about showing Wim what hard work, determination, and being a kind person would get you. I wanted him to see how everyday I managed to smile, because there is always a reason to smile. I wanted to show him how being kind to everyone would gain you many friends and thus, gain you many amazing memories.
Having a little brother gave me purpose in life. I hope that many of the actions and decisions I choose to make in life will make an impact on his world in some way. I hope to have my name in newspaper articles, to be on several news channels, maybe even publish a book or two – who knows, maybe they will even make a documentary on me some day. I do not wish these things for my own vanity, although it would be amazing. I wish for these to happen because it means I will have done something worthwhile in my life. It means I will have made an impact in this world. But I hope that if these events do happen to me, Wim will read these articles and see these reports and proudly say, “That’s my big sister.” I hope that he will walk through high school and college and his career and proudly say my name in admiration. I hope that he will want to make an impact in this world as I hope to do.
But most of all, I hope the decisions I make will inspire him to make his own decisions wisely, to discover his own destiny. I hope he will learn to find his passion and pursue it until he succeeds. I want him to make his own way in this world. By no means do I wish for him to mimic my every move. I merely hope that I inspire him to follow his own path. I hope to inspire him, but in many ways, I feel that he is the one who will inspire me (he already has).
