During my short nineteen years of living, I've had many jobs. I've worked in retail as a sales associate, to a technician at a veterinarian's clinic. I have been a front desk customer service representative and a formal consultant. Each and every job I have worked at, I've found it to be informative and rewarding, but mostly financially securing.
The one job though that I've never gained a penny from, I've found to be the most fulfilling and surely the most exciting. The job that will never escape me, that I'll never learn too much from, will be the one job that I will never get tired of; the job of being the oldest sibling to my sister and brother.
I consider being the oldest sibling a job because it literally is. You're supposed to watch after your siblings but also be a friend to them. You have to make sure they take you seriously but also see that you can be fun. You should influence them to stay out of trouble and push them to make the right choices, since you've already been there and done that, knowing much too well the consequences of your adolescent actions.
In all honesty, I don't mind it. I don't mind playing the never-ending role in their lives simply because they need me. Whether they want to admit it or not, they need an older sibling who knows the game, who knows a bit more than they do, to guide them and be their helping hand when they need one. If anything, I'm thankful that I was chosen to be this person to them.
Even with all of their silliness, arguments and uncontrollable nature, I wouldn't want anyone else to be employed but me.
At the end of the day, being an older sibling may be the job we never signed up for, but it will also be the job we'll never want to quit. Our siblings can be difficult to deal with and we'll want to question our employment status many times, but they're worth it. The job is worth it. The smiles, the laughter, the good times are worth all of the hard times. Most importantly, the bond and unconditional love that you'll share with your siblings is the greatest pay you'll ever receive.
