I was fortunate enough when I was born that I was my parents' first child. I got the best of both worlds; I got four years of being an only child and being the center of my parents' world (aside from their beloved cat), and I got the blessing of having two incredible younger sisters.

My younger sister was born just before my fourth birthday, and I was super excited to have a baby around because I was lonely, and I could only torture the cat for so many hours each day before I got really bored. Six years later, my youngest sister was born, and I was equally as excited because I was going to have a real life baby doll! Being an older sister is the biggest joy in my life, for a solid eight reasons:

1. My best friend lives across the hall from me.

My younger sister and I were not always close. We used to fight endlessly, and we were never really close until my senior year of high school. She got on my nerves and sometimes I would wish I was an only child again. But regardless of those rocky years, my sister is my best friend. I tell her everything, from disastrous first date stories to shrieking on the phone when I got my bid or a good grade on an exam. When I live at home, she is literally two steps across the hall, so I can wake her up early in the morning when I want Dunkin Donuts or I can jump on her bed and make her watch "Harry Potter"with me.

2. My other best friend is a mini-me (who I can dress up all the time).

As close as I am with my younger sister, I’m just as close with my youngest sister. When she was born, I was so excited to have a little mini-me who I could dress up and cuddle with all the time. To this day, I still can’t walk into Target without being immediately drawn over to the little girl's section because I see a dress that she HAS to have.

3. I grew up faster than most of my peers.

Part of being an older sister meant that I had responsibilities that some of my peers did not have to worry about. I frequently babysat for my parents so that they could go to meetings, go on dates or see old friends. While being a built in babysitter got really annoying when I was in high school and dating and over the summer, it helped me to grow up. I learned to cook at a young age so that we didn’t eat take out every time I watched my sisters. I was given cleaning chores early to help my mom out with three girls. I spent a lot of time in the car while my mom shuttled us around to dance classes and piano lessons and tutoring sessions; and when I got my license, I then got the responsibility of being the taxi driver. I became like a mini- mom to my little sisters, and now all my friends refer to me as “Mom” because of the maternal instincts I developed from being the oldest.

4. I have to be a responsible role model.

As the oldest sister, it also meant that I was the role model. Whether they like to admit it or not, I know my sisters look up to me in some sense. I was the first to go to high school and graduate. I was the first to have a boyfriend and deal with dating drama. I was the first to get bad grades and make poor choices. The main thing I always keep in mind in my actions, whether I’m posting a Snapchat story or going out with friends or procrastinating studying for an exam, is what would my sisters think if they saw this? Would they proud of me? Or would they lose respect for me because I made a mistake? I have been and always will be a role model, I can’t be constantly messing up and making them embarrassed about me; I need to be responsible for everything I say and do.

5. I set the example.

I was the first to go to school, and since my town is relatively small, I set the example for my sisters and our teachers. Now that my younger sister is through middle school and a sophomore in high school, she is getting a lot of the teachers that I previously had. For the most part, I tried to set a good example and not make all the teachers at my high school hate the name “Evans,” but there were a few that just did not like me, for either a legitimate reason or one that was complete nonsense. My favorite part of the back to school season is hearing my sisters tell me about the reactions that they get when she tells a teacher that they are my sister.

6. I am able to love Disney and children's cartoons with slightly less shame.

With a 10 year age gap between me and my youngest sister, there are times where I need to be a grown up and “mom” for her, and there are also times where I get to be a kid and be excited for things with her. At 19 and a half years old I am still a proud Disney princess who looks forward to our summer trip to Disney World every year. I am a huge fan of most of the new Disney Channel shows that she watches, and when she was a toddler, I proudly watched "Sesame Street" and had the same obsession with Abbey Caddabey that she did. I even proudly wore a matching Abbey Caddabey t-shirt with her to Sesame Place one year. I know better than anyone else that there is no such thing as being “too old” for something, but having a younger sister takes away that little bit of shame that I sometimes feel.

7. I get strange looks when I take my youngest sister to lunch.

With a 10 year age gap, sometimes my youngest sister and I get strange looks from people on the street thinking that she is my child, rather than my little sister. It was especially bad when I used to have to push her around in a stroller.

8. I am constantly mistaken for the middle child.

My other favorite reaction is the one I get when I tell people, "no, I’m not in high school, I’m actually the oldest child, and I’m in college." Sometimes, people get embarrassed for confusing me and my younger sister, but for the most part, they apologize and tell me how lucky I’m going to be when I’m in my late 30s and still have somewhat of a baby face.