One of my favorite poems is “I carry your heart with me” by E.E. Cummings. It is about a relationship between two close friends whose love for each other is as deep as the roots of a tree and can never be broken apart. This poem strikes a cord with me because I was blessed with an older sister. She has been my built in best friend since the beginning and will be forever. The relationship between sisters is unlike any other. There is a concrete devotion to one another through thick and thin because you have an alliance within the family. She has been my role model, therapist, and mentor about everything. I idolized her more than anyone in the world and now, I am so proud of the woman she has blossomed into. If she popped her Abercrombie & Fitch collar, then obviously I would too. If she was watching some “risqué” show (according to my mom) like Gossip Girl or The Hills, then she would let me sneak into her room to watch it with her. As I am nearing my adult years, I realize that it’s about time I give some much deserved thanks to the one person who has shaped who I am today.

Thank you for sharing everything with me since day 1.

First of all, sorry for stealing your clothes for the majority of my life. What’s mine is yours, right? I guess you should really be flattered that I’ve always wanted to be just like you. More than just clothes, we’ve shared our lives together so that's pretty cool, too.

Thank you for knowing me inside & out.

We have spent our life as partners in crime. You have put up with me for a long time, and time has made us two peas in a pod. Thanks for being the one person who understands me. You were always there if I needed someone to eat Thai food, snuggle, and watch a silly rom com with. Nobody accepts me for all my craziness like you do. Seriously, what would I do without you?

Thank you for being my biggest cheerleader.

It is rare to have people in your life who support you for everything you believe in and aspire to do in the future. Your parents are the ones who try to challenge you with school in order to succeed, but your older sister is the one who attempts to edit your papers or do your horrifying math homework with you. If you're getting ready to go to a dance, your older sister is the one who picks out your dress while also helping you with your hair and makeup. Thank you for pushing me to be the best version of myself by giving me the best parts of you.

Thank you for having my back.

From our overcontrolling (yet loving) parents to the evil girls on the playground to the stupid boys in high school—you’ve always been there for me. We are a dynamic duo. If one of us is upset, the other is too. We do whatever it takes to simply be there for one another through whatever life throws our way. That is what true friendship is. That is what sisterhood is.

Thank you for always being my rock.

Growing up with someone forces you to grow with them—spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. Your hearts and mind are sewn together throughout many years. Your family members are forced to love you through times of happiness and times of darkness. The opportunity to have strong relationships with your siblings and parents is what gives you a solid support system forever. Thank you, sissy, for being my rock. I have not known life without you and I never want to.

("I carry your heart with me, I carry it in my heart.")