When I was little, I was the only child. Although I remember just the smallest of details from that time, what I do know is that I was happy and I was spoiled. When I was four, my sister was born, and I didn’t have the luxury of having everyone and everything to myself. That effect furthered when my youngest sister was born just a couple of years later. Although the attention and love were directed at more than just me, I never felt neglected or less desirable of a child.

In many ways, my sisters and I got along much better than your average group of siblings. Sure, we fought and yelled and got on our parent’s nerves when we argued over who had to sit in the middle of the backseat for every car ride. My parents always told us that we needed to get along because someday when we were all grown up, we would need each other. I think that back then we took that with a grain of salt and didn’t truly think much into it. Now that I am getting older, I get it more. I see a lot in both my sisters, and I learn more from them than I would have ever expected. So this is a thank you to them, for dealing with me and teaching me things that only two entirely different teenage girls could.

To Taylor,

You are the most compassionate, delightful person that I, and many others, have been lucky enough to be around. When we were little, we were each other’s best friends and we lived such a simple life. As we have gotten older, our personalities have differed more and more, but somehow we maintain that relationship we’ve always held. Every day you make me want to be a nicer person. You treat everyone with respect and fairness, no matter what the situation is. You find the best in people and see the good in every single person you come across.

It’s mainly because of you that I want to be better well rounded and set myself up for success. You are out there pushing through the toughest years of high school playing two sports, taking a serious interest in your classes (even those tough AP classes), being an editor for the yearbook and maintaining a legitimate social life despite everything. I see you studying for hours a night, cramming for exams, and then the next night you are out with friends. And you make it work. Now you’re picking up a summer job to make money on top of babysitting, all while working to get your driver’s license and somehow I know that you are going to make it all work. I don’t know how you do it, but I sure do envy you for your time management skills.

You teach me that you can do anything and everything you set your mind to if you take the time and dedication to accomplish it. You teach me that people are good and deserve to be happy. You teach me that school is important, but so are friends. You teach me that determination and desire can go a long way. You teach me that you earn what you put in and that things don’t always come easy. You teach me that being a good person is just as vital to being happy as is kicking back and relaxing with a bag of chips in your hand. You teach me to always be the best I can be.

Thank you, Taylor, for being my teacher.

To Allie,

You are the craziest oddball I know but I love it. You know how to have a good time. When we were younger, you got on my nerves and I got on yours. We clashed a lot of the time. Eventually, we matured and now you’ve helped me become comfortable with being myself. You’re sporty and you love to be active. I’ve lost track of the 5K’s we’ve run together, but I can almost guarantee that without you I probably would have never done any of them. You’ve played almost every sport in the book it seems like, and now you can *almost* beat me in a game of one-on-one basketball.

You have a wild taste in music. Only with you can I hear "I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis followed by "99 Problems" by Jay Z on the same playlist. Despite your antics and wild personality, you keep close friendships with those who mean the most to you and will do anything to be by their side. You care about your friends and their wellbeing. You know how to crack a joke at just the right time and you know how to settle down and get serious when the time comes. I’m impressed by your ability to be responsible enough to be in bed before anyone else is even settled in for the night, and yet at the same time be the first person to yell and scream to come with on a simple trip to Target even if you have chores to do. You live life to the fullest. You take nothing in life for granted and enjoy every bit you can squeeze out of every day.

You teach me that being active and healthy is important and desirable. You teach me that when life gets you down, there is always a way to make things better. You teach me that it’s okay to roll down the windows and sing to the radio. You teach me that when someone holds value to you, it’s important to show them that. You teach me that a good joke or light hearted, sarcastic jab can make anyone smile. You teach me not to be so serious and stressed all the time. You teach me that adventure and fun is found in every day, you just have to make it for yourself. You teach me to enjoy life.

Thank you, Allie, for being my teacher.

Both of you help make me who I am. Thank you for making me the best I can be. I love you both and I look forward to the next lesson you teach me.