To my brother and sister,
Right now, there are only two short weeks until I leave you again for my second year of college. You’ve probably gotten used to me being three hours away, but I still try to cherish every little moment I have with you guys before I’m off on my own again, so don’t push me away when I try to hug you unexpectedly. By the time you read this, you will be in your first and second years of high school, which is a big deal. I'm really excited for you guys to have a brand new start.
To my sister, you’ve made it so far and I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am to have you as a younger sibling, even when you take my things. I didn’t think it was possible for an older sister to look up to a younger sister, but from you, I have learned many things, like not caring about what other people think about you and knowing when to speak and when not to speak. You’re quiet, but I imagine you have a lot to say on the inside. People like that tend to be very wise. Even though we have fought and will continue to fight over stupid things that we can’t remember anymore, you know I would drop anything to be there for you, even if I am away at school. It’s okay to text me and talk to me about problems with friends or call me when you don’t understand math; chances are I won’t get it either, but we’re in this together. It is not the end of the world if math isn’t your thing. The one thing I want you to remember in high school, if you don't take anything else away from this, is this: don’t let anyone take away your chance to be who you are. Don’t be ashamed of what bands you, like what your hair looks like or what hobbies you enjoy. What I know is that it’s better to find yourself before you find other people. Make sure you are confident, honest, responsible and that you make good decisions, serve others and never give up your faith in God. If you feel uncertain about your faith, that gives you all the more reason to turn to Him for answers-- not run away. God will always and forever be your crutch to lean on; don’t take advantage of the shelter He provides.
Second, don’t let any boy make you feel less than you want to feel. Focus on making yourself a better you for yourself, not them. I care about you too much to see you go through the same things I did and make the same mistakes I did. Also, don’t let anyone, girl or boy, tell you anything about the way you look. Find it within yourself to feel content with that, and if you aren’t, then change something. After all, it’s not a bad thing to want to change into the person you want to be, just make sure that person has a solid foundation that God and your family would be proud of. Find the right people, get close to them and be a good friend. High school can be so much fun with the right people, just make sure they aren’t pressuring you into things you know in your heart are wrong. Find things to get involved in, do well in school and find people to support you; whether it be peers, teachers or Mom and Dad. Football games are super fun, there are awesome teachers, so much more freedom and more opportunities to find out what you like. You just have to go into high school with the right attitude.
Last thing: focus on being a good student and keeping yourself on track in school. You might not think college sounds appealing right now, and maybe you never will, but don’t shake off the idea entirely. College gives you a whole world of new opportunities. However, also remember that it’s okay to choose another route. Not everyone is the same. You have so much potential to become a successful person and just like anyone else, you have to apply yourself and figure out what your true passions are. I know you have interests, you just have to dig deep and, once again, find yourself. I love you very much and remember that God always provides and takes care of you if you put all your faith in Him.
To my brother, you know how proud I am of you. I brag about the many sports teams you've been on to all of my friends and, believe it or not, you are the reason why baseball is important to me. You've made it important to me. It's something we can all share as a family. I'm not only proud of your athletic abilities, but also your desire to learn. Some boys my age, especially involved in sports, stop caring about school because they think they can get by with just their physical ability, but you know better. It’s also okay to find other hobbies and other friends to hang out with outside of sports teams. Find things that make you reach out of your comfort zone to help others. Your academics and being smart is very important because you're a know-it-all and being a know-it-all, in the best sense, means that you want to keep learning more and that you are determined to succeed. You have the potential to be a leader, a strong leader. The one thing I've learned about leadership is that being at the top does not mean you dominate other people, but instead you stand beside them and help them see the future, influencing them with a positive attitude and not pointing out their weaknesses. God says it's sinful to gossip and say mean things to people even behind their backs. Don't let the wrong people in high school pull you into bad things that you know Mom and Dad wouldn't like. Trust me, they'll find out and trust me, it's not worth it. I’d rather upset all my friends than see Mom and Dad disappointed in me, because at the end of the day, family is always there.
Like I said to your sister, don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough for a team, or good looking enough for a girl or not smart enough. You do what you want -- not what others want from you. God did not place you on this earth to be dragged along by others, but instead to lead by example and show His love through your actions. Don't be a false version of yourself. The time will come when you're 18-years-old and you'll look back on high school and you'll think about all the stupid things that you've done (you will make mistakes, it's human nature) and you'll regret them, but you have all the chances in the world to move on and think ahead. I don't want high school to change who you are because deep down you're a caring, genuine, intelligent boy and everyone knows that; you don't hide it very well, no matter how tough you may try to seem. Finally, don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. Live your life, but with guard rails to keep you going If you start to swerve off. God will always be there to guide you if you just ask.
I love you both so much, even if it's hard to admit sometimes. We're all teenagers, admitting to loving your brother and sister is like having teeth pulled. But I love you nonetheless. If you ever need me, no exam, football game, party or empty gas tank could stop me from coming to help you. I'm your older sister and it's my job to look after you and let me just say that I've never been more honored to have such a position.
Don't miss me too much.
Love,
Your older sister
