Growing up with a brother five years older was like growing up with three parents. The five year gap between my brother and I always felt like a wall. But now I know, my brother knows me better than anyone else. He has watched me grow from a chubby baby to a stressed college student. He knows my weakness and my strengths. He knows that I am a perfectionist. He respects that I am a control freak. He has accepted me for who I am: the stupid one in the family. But through everything that he has done for me, he has managed to make me a better person. Here are 6 ways how:

1. He had to do everything first.

Being the first child to do everything is not easy. Especially in my family, my parents didn't grow up in American culture; so when we moved here, they had to adjust to the culture. My brother experienced things for the first time, and a lot of the time, it was my parents' first time as well. His first day of school was my parents' first day sending a child off to school in America. His first soccer game was my parents' first day watching a soccer game in America. So, my brother was expected to learn a lot of things on his own; and then, he taught them to me.

Thanks for letting me off the hook, big bro.

2. He taught me the rules of football.

My brother is a huge Patriots fan (as in he was most definitely crying after they got shut out by the Bills). Naturally, Sundays in my house means the TV is on all day and the house was filled with Al Michaels' play-by-play narrative. Through the years, my brother has taught me the rules of football: from the downs to intentional grounding. My extensive football knowledge, competitive nature, and dedication to the Patriots, always seems to catch guys off guard. But more importantly, I am especially grateful that he made me a fan of the best team in the NFL.

Thanks for teaching me the most important things in life: Pats and Brady, big bro.

3. He was my college counselor.

The college application process was not exactly smooth sailing for me. There were some deep lows, but my brother always seemed to know exactly what to say in those moments. Even though he was at college, 900 miles away, he made sure to check in. Having already gone through the experience, he knew what emotions I was feeling, the pressure to go to a prestigious school, and everything else that comes with the AWESOME process called college applications. He gave me advice without trying to nudge me one way, and supported me when, after weeks of stress, I finally decided on Northeastern.

Thanks for holding my hand through it all big bro.

4. He was my third parent.

In my first grade class, on each kid's birthday, his/her parent would come in with cupcakes and read the kid's favorite book to the class. My brother, who was still in fifth grade himself, was the one who came into my class on my birthday. My mom brought cupcakes, and my brother read my favorite book. My parents had the difficult task of parenting in a country that was foreign to them - culture, food, people, everything. So in the early years, things that were hard for my parents due to the language barrier, my brother did for me. He was my third parent. I know this forced him to grow up quickly, and I am forever grateful he was willing to do so.

Thanks second dad big bro.

5. He taught me the power of a team.

My brother was a soccer star from age 5, and went onto join baseball, basketball, and lacrosse teams. As a little kid too young to stay home alone, I was forced to sit in the car numerous days of the week, driving him to and from practices and games. But watching him play during a game, listening to him talk enthusiastically about his teammates, and seeing him devastated after a loss, made me want to be part of a team. Growing up in such a sports-crazed family, I was destined to be an athlete. But, watching my brother from the sidelines made me want to do it; I was never forced into sports, I was just inspired to play them. Some of my greatest memories have been with my teammates on my varsity and club teams.

Thanks for opening that door for me, and nudging me through it, big bro.

6. He set the bar high for me.

I grew up trying to live up to the standards that my brother had created in my family. In my mind, I believed I would never be able to reach the bar that my brother had set. I could never be my brother. But, my brother taught me I didn't have to, and that I shouldn't be. He reminded me that I needed to choose my own path, not follow the one that he had taken. But, he has still managed to set an example for me, motivating me to be a better version of me.

Thanks for showing me the ropes, big bro.

So big brother (even though you still won't accept my Facebook friend request), thank you for being my role model, my hero, and the person I now strive to be.