My family consists of three kids, of which I am the only girl. Ever since I was young, before my second brother was born, I remember wanting a little sister to take care of and play dress up with. It was always hard for me to accept that I wouldn't have a baby sister of my own, and it took me a long time to come to terms with the fact I was going to be the only girl. Then I found my best friends, and they became the sisters I never had. From almost 12 years of friendship to just seven or eight months, these girls have helped build a family away from home.

MaryEllen and I have been best friends since second grade, right from the get-go. She's seen it all, and has stuck by my side since day one. When people talk about their other halves, she's generally who I think of. We would laugh about fart jokes and play pretend in elementary school, talk about boys and makeup in middle school, and sang together in high school. Now that we go to different colleges, the time we spend together is priceless to me. Luckily, she's only an hour away, so I don't have to worry about growing too far apart from my twin!

Desiree has been around since freshman year of high school, and while we initially bonded over boy bands, our friendship evolved into late night laughter and deep conversations. Des has gotten me through some hard times, and she's one of my go-to people if I really need advice and a listening ear. She's also one of the funniest people you'll ever meet once you get close to her, and I'm so glad I have. So from boy bands to basically everything, she's heard it all and there's nothing I can say that surprises her anymore. She's the big sister I look up to and enjoy hanging out with, and I know she always has my back.

Emma's been around since first semester of college, but she has made a huge impact on my life. They say you meet your lifelong friends in college, and I can definitely say the phrase is true. She and Des share a similar personality, and she helps keep me out of trouble at school. When we met at karaoke on Halloween, I had no idea how close we'd become -- or the craziness that we'd run into. Not only did we get to be two peas in a pod, we have also been mistaken for sisters and even twins. While MaryEllen is my other half, Emma is my conscience sometimes, and she has a heart as wide as the ocean for those she loves.

These three girls became the sisters I never had, but the sisters I always wanted. Through constant support and never ending joy, the social family I've created has become one of my foundations. I wouldn't go through life with anyone else, and I'm so excited to see what the years will bring!