Dear little brother,

I know I can give you a hard time, and we fight like nobody’s business, and you may not believe me, but I do it because I love you. As an older sibling, I don’t want you to go through anything that I’ve been through. Sometimes I might be a little overprotective of you, but I’d rather be smothering you with safety than having you go out and make the same mistakes I did, or get pressured into doing something that you’re not comfortable with. As your older sibling, I feel as if I was put on this Earth in order to experience life first, and then be able to help and guide you through not only the difficulties of life but school as well.

Believe me when I tell you, school will be over in the blink of an eye. I graduated high school over a year ago and I just finished my freshmen year of college, even though it seems like just yesterday I was holding you in the hospital, asking mom if we could put you back for a baby sister. I’ll be the first to admit that I dreaded going to school every day, I had a rough life with bullying, the stress of classes, and constantly being picked on, but I look back on it and part of me misses it. I want you to have fun in school, but be focused at the same time. Don’t let anyone distract you from reaching your goals in school. Strive to be the best in everything you do. Make sure your academics come first. Yes, sports are fun and take up a lot of time, and hanging out with friends is fun, but school should always come first, don’t make that mistake.

If school goes by fast, then sports go by even faster. Playing multiple sports when you’re young is great, and so much fun, but believe me, once you reach high school, you have to pick one, maybe two sports to focus on, and normally in college, you pick one sport. Soon, you’ll feel like a washed up player of soccer, basketball, baseball, flag football, and everything else you participated in, what you strive to continue with will be up to you. Don’t let mom and dad pick for you, it has to be about what you want. Also, don’t play a sport now to make mom and dad happy, if you don’t wanna play, don’t play! You have to worry about you and what makes you happy.

Most importantly, I wanna say thank you. Despite all of the bickering and me constantly breathing down your neck to make sure you’re getting stuff done, you’ve stuck by my side. You’ve been the one who’s comforted me when I’ve been crying, you’ve made me laugh when I can no longer make myself laugh, and you always tell me you love me. Well, I love you, I’m proud of you and the little man that you’re slowly becoming. You’ve worked hard in everything you’ve ever done, and your ambition and dedication is admirable. Remember to always follow your dreams and to reach for the stars, because you can certainly do anything you set your mind to.

Love,

Your older sister