To my little brother,

With the imminent arrival of your first year of college looming in the distance, I wanted to take some time to thank you for being the best brother to me. I am consistently blown away by you and your heart. You put other people first in a way that is incredibly rare. I may be the oldest sibling, but you're the one worth looking up to. You see the world for what it is and always do the right thing. You were the best sibling I could have asked for from the very start. I picked fights, and you defused them. I came up with wild plans, and you went along with them even though you knew we would get in trouble. Thank you for knowing when to fight me and when to support me. Thank you for encouraging me and entertaining me.

Thank you for sharing your world with me. You've never shut me out, you've always been willing to make room for me in your life, and you have the most giving spirit. Thank you for letting me grow with you. Thank you for sometimes being the big one, but always letting me take control when I need to. You have been the perfect sibling, and everyone who knows us tells me how lucky I am to have you. You’ve taught me more than anyone else how to love. Your example has been a blessing in my life.

Thank you for always letting me sit in the front seat and for not turning Taylor Swift off when you get in my car. Thank you for indulging my whims, watching my shows and laughing at my bad jokes. You willingly come into my world and participate in the things I care about to spend time with me, and not everyone has a sibling willing to do that for them. You have taught me what it means to be a good friend. You're so selfless in all that you do.

I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up with anyone else. You got stuck with me as your sister, but you’ve always let me be your friend and I’m so grateful. So thank you for the eighteen years of friendship you've given me. I'm so excited to watch you go into the world and make it your own.