Well, here I go sissy; I finally made it. This time last year, we really did not think I was going to. I actually graduated and am going to my dream school.

I’ve gone from your little annoying sister that would find every excuse to come into your room when you had friends over to one of your best friends, your closest confidant, and your go-to shopping buddy. From punching you in the mouth because I thought you stole my Christmas card (she didn’t, by the way; we had the same card. Our grandma never made that mistake again) to debating who was the better looking sibling, (it’s not me) we have really grown up.

We never got along until you left me to go to college. Granted, it was only 20 minutes away, but it still hurt the same as if you were moving to the other side of the country. That three year, 11 month, and three week age gap really started to blur after that. Now it is my turn to spread my wings and fly. I will no longer be a hop, skip, and a jump away. Yet, I will only be a phone call away, or in our case, a stupid dog video on Facebook away.

You will forever be my big sister, even if I have eight inches on you. You have navigated your first four years at college so beautifully; I hope to do the same. You are my role model, and I want to be just like you--always have and always will. You are strong, confident, and stand up for what you believe in.

In our small city of eight square miles, I was always known as Katie’s little sister. The majority of our teachers that we both had in high school would call me Katie. Even the teachers who had known me for three or more years (*cough* Mrs. Cialkowski *cough*) would slip up and call me by your name. I forever lived in your shadow at Allen Park High School. Occasionally, I did not mind. You really made an impact on the school. You were known as the "Stop The R Word” girl, and when I took on organizing a week dedicated to inclusion and stopping hate speech, I was told I was “just like my sister.” I wanted to be just like you, but I also wanted to be known for what I did as well. That is one of the main reasons I decided to go away to school. I wanted to no longer be living in your shadow. I know we are not following the same career path, me wanting to be a publisher and you going into special education, but I did not even want to risk it. I wanted to finally be known as Kelsey and not Katie’s little sister, Kelsey.

Now, as I embark on the next step of my future, I really see how much I am going to miss from home. I’m going to miss the random Target runs. I am going to miss when you call me because you need me to talk you out of spending money. I am going to miss when you call me and tell me to come over because you are bored. I am definitely not going to miss you calling me to drive to Meijer to give you the discount card. It is going to be held hostage at school with me (sticks tongue out). But I will miss being able to just call you and tell you stupid stories or vent about my day. You will be busy with your new job and College of Education classes, and I will be busy trying to get as much as I can out of school. Sure, I will see you every few weeks, but nothing will be the same as seeing you as much as I do now.

As the saying goes, “sisters grow separately without growing apart.” Now is the time for us to branch off and become our own people. You have had a four year head start on becoming your own person; now it is my time to catch up. You established yourself in the Downriver community, and I hope to do the same at my new home in Alma.

You will forever be the Freak to my Mighty, the Elsa to my Anna, and the Galinda to my Elphaba. No matter how far away we move or grow, you will always be my big sister and I will forever be grateful for that. So much of me is made from what I learned from you. You’ll always be with me like a handprint on my heart. Don’t forget to remember me.

I love you Kakey.

Sincerely,