Well, I think it's time I finally talk about two of the most influential people in my life: my brothers.

I am the middle child between two boys and it has taught me a variety of things about life that I often don't stop to appreciate.

First of all, boys are not as bad as girls often make them out to be. So Chad from Sigma Apple Pi didn't text you back, you're confused and upset as to why he doesn't care enough to respond. More than likely he is focused on doing something and isn't spending the entirety of his day staring at his phone. Boys are more apt to spending time with their friends in my personal estimation and not staring at their phone the entire time they do so.

They have this magical gift of being able to stay up and play video games for hours on end. Let this cause you no alarm if you're sending larger texts than he is. You may be talking about something that happened in your day and he may be doing his best to continue to reply to you while playing Call of Duty or another first-person shooter game at the same time. It is okay that his responses are shorter than a sentence.

He still cares enough to reply.

Also, there are good guys out there. Not that I am biased but my brothers are two of the most respectable gentlemen I know. As I have seen them both in relationships, they are nothing but polite, caring, and sweet to anyone they have ever dated. It absolutely kills me to see how often guys are sold short as horrible people because of social media. However, I will be the first to tell you that my mother and father raised these two boys to be gentlemen. No questions asked.

Secondly, my older brother is honestly one of my biggest inspirations. He and I drove to school for three years together. Between 7 am marching band call times and after-school food runs, I learned a lot about Foo Fighters, the difference between good and gross Wendy's french fries, science, and technology.

Even though I always wanted to change the music to something that was upbeat pop, being told I am going to learn to appreciate classic rock one day was honestly something I am very grateful for now. Catch me in my car bopping to Hoodie Allen, Ed Sheeran, and 80's hair bands thanks to him.

Also, he was there for me with the advice I never wanted to hear but I so desperately needed. He was the one to tell me like it is and how it is in the most logical of formats. This advice was often the hardest to hear and still can be hard to hear but he has my best interests and ideas at mind.

Although he often came across as harsh I think back to when I was little, he was often my means of communication because I was a very quiet little kid but he always knew exactly what I needed when I would make a sound. He also took it upon himself when I was crying over anything at a young age to make me laugh as hard as I possibly could.

Whether it meant means of slightly harming himself or telling me a strand of dumb jokes, he always managed to get me to crack a smile through the sniffles and tears.

My younger brother has taught me more about life than I often let on. Although he and I have not had the same chances to bond like the older one and I have, we've gotten closer in our own way. As he has gotten older we've begun to spend more time together talking about a variety of things.

Whether it be his current problems, my current problems (which he'll tell me I worry too much), or just life, in general, we always find something to talk about.

I am very blessed that he comes to me to talk about some things that he feels that I would have the best advice for. He's currently embarking on his newest journey of college which is still mind-boggling. Between his new set of classes and soccer, I do my best to give him space. He's got a load of people who check up on him almost daily so I'd rather not add any stress in his life.

When we do talk, however, the conversations are pretty good. I am grateful that he gave me the knowledge of soccer I never knew I would have, life advice on letting go of the small things, and not taking everything too seriously.

Although they are the first two to make me the butt of a good joke, they do mean well. They have each other to help grow and mature but little do they know that they have done that for me as well. Between watching them play video games for hours on end, walking through downtown Chicago together, or just going through life together they have taught me so much.

Thank you guys for letting me take too many Snapchat selfies of us three, for dealing with my bad jokes, and for helping me grow as a person.

Love,

Your sister.