I apologize in advance for the way you’re probably sitting in your dorm room 600 miles away, rolling your eyes at me. This is going to be incredibly sappy and corny, but I think you deserve to hear how influential a role you have played in my life. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it were not for you in my life.

First off, I don’t even know what a life would be like without you. Since you’re less than a minute older than I am, I’ve had you in my life ever since I took my first breath.

Please know this with all your being: you are smart. You are compassionate. You are driven. You possess a witty sense of humor and a self confidence that I never had. Thank you for being the “go with the flow” presence in our family, because without your constant reminders to stop worrying so much my head would have been blown clean off with overthinking and anxiety.

This year has been one of the strangest yet, marking the end of our childhood in which we lived in the same home and the beginning of our two separate adventures into adulthood. I feel like I took having a twin for granted all these years, because being on my own has finally made me realize just how much you mean to me.

The memories. Where do I even start? I would have never had such a great childhood if it weren’t spent with you by my side. Spending long hours in newspaper that never seemed to end, convincing me to ditch class for Starbucks runs when senioritis hit, binge-watching Investigation Discovery and Tosh.0, talking at night until God-knows-when about God-knows-what, driving down Rockville Pike with Migos blasting...I could probably spend a couple days covering our memories alone. Here’s to many more.

Starting college last August was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do thus far. I’m not sure you know this, but after we dropped you off on Move-In Day (and after Mom’s hugs that never seemed to end), Mom and I just stopped at a stop light and started crying. You know what the best part is though? Even though our entire lives are on different paths now, I still feel just as close to you through our Facetime conversations and our visits on breaks.

Thank you for being my strongest support system. Through the hard times in my life, you have been the first person I turn to at the first signs of trouble. I hope you feel the same way with me, because despite the distance I will always be available to listen.

I want you to know what a great person you have always been, and what an amazing person you are becoming. As always, I am your biggest fan, and throughout our lives I will always be cheering you on in whatever you pursue. I can't wait to visit you in Wilmy next year!