It's no secret that I'm a big sister, and I like to pride myself in that. Being a big sister is as part of me as having brown hair or being Puerto Rican. It's integral to my personality. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't been surrounded by younger boys. And while it's annoying to be the only female in the house, I wouldn't have it any other way.
The picture above was taken December of 2014, when I came back for Winter break after my first semester at Ohio Wesleyan. Before then, I had never been away from my siblings for longer than two weeks.
My family unit is very interesting. My parents got a divorce after four years of marriage (and two kids), and my father remarried a few years later, but they didn't bring a child into the world until I was 17 (the baby in my arms), while my mom had another child (the middle-looking child in the picture) and is now very happily dating an architect with two kids, one fourteen and the other twenty (not pictured) and it's a fun ass time.
I like to think I'm a good sister, and I have definitely been molded by the three younger boys I've had the absolute pleasure of being around.
The oldest brother, currently eighteen years old, just wrapped up his first semester of college and works two jobs. He and I have been through everything together, from hating the dentist and sharing a room for at least ten years to weird Christmas traditions and being compared to each other in school. He and I have gone through a lot together, and we're bonded in a very special way. Being his older sister has always been a privilege to me. I've gotten to see him grow and become the best version of himself, find happiness and what he stands for, and nothing makes me happier than to see him so passionate about those issues he cares about.
He amazes me every single day, and I'm just a LITTLE mad that he's taller than me now.
My mom's youngest, currently ten years old, is one of the most brilliant children I have ever known. He's been building legos for kids a lot older than him for a long time now, and he's so good at it. He and I have in-depth conversations about Marvel movies, and he's the one I take to go see movies "for kids" since no one else would go with me. He's incredibly smart and funny, and though he's half my age, I feel like I grew up with him, too. He and I have a much different relationship than I do with his older brother, but that's just a given. I love him with everything I have, and it's a real fun time whenever we spend time just the two of us.
People gave me dirty looks when he was younger, because they assumed I was his mom. I was twelve, and he was two.
Then there's the bABY. He's two now, but shhhhhh. He's a baby. My stepmother got pregnant during my senior year of high school, so I am eighteen years older than my youngest brother. He was only a month old when I left for college, so for the past few years, I only see him twice a year during the extended breaks after each Fall and Spring semester. I try to spend as much time with him as possible, because I do want to be a presence in his life. He's very important to me, and I want to be very important to him. I have to be, since my dad (also his dad) has already mentioned I'm gonna be the one to help move him into college sixteen years from now.
He's also my godson, and he's the cutest baby I have ever seen.
I love my brothers, and I wish I could protect them from the world. Each one holds a different place in my heart, from being my partner in crime, being the one who puked on my favorite t-shirt when I was ten, and being the one I bathe when I'm in the house. Even if he jokingly says he doesn't want me to.
Being their sister is a part of my identity, and it means the world to me. There aren't enough words to describe what I feel when I see them, but I know they're always going to be my family. I'm always going to be there for them in whatever capacity I can, seeing as I'm really far. But I will always support them in everything they do, from winning science fairs to building legos or racing in mini tricycles. I will always hear what they have to say and teach them where they can. And I will set the greatest example I can. Being the oldest means all the younger kids look up to me, and that's turned out to be true for my brothers and younger cousins, and it's not something I take lightly. I want to take care of my brothers and be the best I can be to inspire them to be the best they can be.
To me, being their big sister is a leadership role I don't have to put on a resume, but it's the most important one I'll ever have.
