My sister and I have basically considered ourselves twins our entire life. We're only 16 months apart, wear similar (if not identical) clothes sometimes, and do a lot of the same things. Bella and I both attend the University of Dayton, with me as a part of the class of 2019, and her the class of 2020. The ironic part about me going here, though, is that Bella saw the school months before I did. In a way, I kind of feel bad that when I decided to transfer schools, I chose one off of her list. That being said, my freshmen year without my sister was tough. We’ve gone to the same school since kindergarten and I struggled to be without her. In high school, we disconnected when I was a freshman and she was still in 8th grade. She felt left out and I felt like I never saw her. It was essentially the same last year. Bella and I talked on the phone constantly and quite honestly, I felt guilty not being there to support her through her senior year. When she decided to start considering Dayton as a real contender for college, I was ecstatic.
UD is a big family school. There are tons of legacy families who’ve had upwards of four generations attend, big Catholic families with several children who’ve all been Flyers and even a lot of parent/professor-child/student combinations on campus. While Bella and I are the first kids in our family to study at UD, it’s still extremely special to have family on campus. Sure, having new friends is wonderful and all, but to be able to have something as simple as lunch with someone you’ve known since birth is comforting. It’s refreshing to spend time with Bella because she understands all of my quirks, can share in life-long inside jokes and can help drive on the long trek home for breaks.
Not only do Bella and I go to the same school, but we’re also the same major in a small department. Being two of the less than 10 music performance majors on campus, we see a lot of each other. Even more impressive? We have the same primary instrument: voice. I’ll be honest, it can be overwhelming at some times, mostly emotionally. We usually get homesick at the same time, but we work together to pick each other up and laugh it off. I’m so proud of Bella and all that she’s capable of, but I also want her to be able to grow on her own without me ever getting in her way. I’m really protective, and likewise, she’s always looking out for me. Quite frankly, I’m just glad I can be here as a resource for her.
College is a time of all kinds of extreme growth. Not only have I grown as a woman during my time away from home, but my relationship with my sister has substantially grown and improved. Of course, we still fight and get snappy with each other. Honestly, what kind of siblings don’t? I’m thankful that my sister and I go to the same school so we can support each other. Helping one another blossom into the women we strive to be is a beautiful experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.
