Being away from family is hands-down the hardest part about going away to college. Modern technology makes it easy to keep in touch, but going so long without actually seeing your parents and siblings can take a toll on your emotions every once in a while. My older sister happens to be my best friend, making the separation at times even more difficult. While there isn't a day that goes by when we aren’t texting each other non-stop, I still find a million reasons to miss my big sister:

There’s no pressure

I don’t think I have ever felt so completely comfortable around anyone as I do when I am with my sister. I can roll out of bed, hair sticking up in every direction with snot coming out of my nose, and know that it won’t even render a reaction. At school, there is always a little hesitation when it comes to being your absolute authentic self, whether it be in class, at a party, or even in your own room. There are no walls between the two of us, meaning I can be my weirdest self around her and know that she’ll probably find it hilarious. Our inside jokes are downright embarrassing, so much so that a third-party observer would probably feel embarrassed just watching us. My ability to be totally comfortable with her is something I will always cherish and make the most of for as long as I possibly can.

She’s my biggest fan

As was previously mentioned, my sister has seen me at my absolute worst. That being said, she is always my biggest supporter when I do anything remotely more impressive than getting out of bed in the morning. She has come to every dance recital and musical that I’ve ever performed in, even when I only appeared in three minutes of a two-hour show. She has never been anything but supportive of me, no matter what crazy thing it was that I was going after, and it has always been gratifying to make her proud.

She tells it like it is

While my sister is my biggest supporter next to my parents, she also doesn’t let anything get to my head. If I’m being particularly snotty or obnoxious on any given day, she will call me out on it, and it's something I truly appreciate. In college, it can be really difficult to remember that the world doesn’t revolve around you. Essentially, every decision you make is designed to reap some benefit for you. When I get home, however, my sister is sure to keep me in check, reminding me that my decisions don’t only affect me anymore. Everyone needs to be put in their place sometimes, and while her criticism might piss me off initially, I’m always grateful for her ability to make me step back and reevaluate how I act in certain situations.

We can fight and pee ourselves laughing in a span of five minutes

At school, getting in fights with your friends can be painfully awkward. You’ve never spent so much time around friends before, and it's hard to gauge how long a fight will actually last. With siblings, though, it's really very simple. I can argue with my sister about anything from whose turn it is to feed the dog to why she insists on stealing my clothes without asking. But, no matter how severe the argument has been, we always get over it before the day is over. The ability to have a heated argument and end up laughing about something five minutes later is something my sister and I have always excelled at. I can never stay mad at my sister for longer than a few hours, and knowing this makes our petty fights a lot easier to get over.

She’s the one person I can always turn to

When I think of a funny joke or see something absolutely horrendous, my sister is always the first person I look for to tell. Once I process the fact that she isn't actually there, there’s always a little pull at my heartstrings between the realization and when I open up my messages to text her. Beyond that, I know that I can always go to my sister to talk about anything, without judgment. While college friends can be great listeners and trustworthy confidants, there is no contesting the loyalty that exists between siblings. Sometimes, you’ve just had the type of day where you feel the need to throw ungodly amounts of shade at everyone you’ve encountered, and I can rest assured that my sister will always be there to patiently listen to my ridiculous rants and know just what to say in response. I can know wholeheartedly that if I were to ask, our conversation would never make it farther than between the two of us, and for that I am unfathomably grateful.

Nobody gets me quite like her

As my older sister, she has been there for me since day one, something I can only wish I could have done for her. She has watched me grow through every stage of my life and still continues to love me regardless. She can read whatever mood I’m in just by looking at my face and somehow knows exactly what to say. I'm weird and crazy, and she gets me completely, even when I'm not making any sense. There's an unspoken understanding between the two of us, and it's something that I could never live without.

So, to my big sister, thank you for always being the type of person I strive to be. I always have and always will always look up to you, and it's not just because you're taller than me. I miss you and can't wait until my next visit home.

xoxo,

Nicole