To My Graduate Sister,

The day that you left for college, that night to be exact, my first thought was, why is this girl leaving me. I honestly cried for about an hour that night. That was the first time I ever felt truly lonely. It felt as if with all the new changes that were going on plus you leaving, I was losing myself too. At the time I was pretty selfish. I didn't understand that you had your own struggles going on and you had a new and scarier fresh start that you were taking on. As I complete my own first-year of college, I have a new found respect for you. I barely made it through one year and you made it through five.

After you came back home after being away for a year, a part of me was thrilled and another part of me was annoyed. I was annoyed for many reasons. One, I would no longer have my own room and let's be real we both like having our own room. Two, you always talked about leaving and going to school and being happy. You're such a people pleaser that I thought you were coming home for your family instead of yourself. Again, that was probably me being selfish and making everything about me. Either way, if you came home for you or because that's what mom told you to do. I'm proud of you. I now know that it's hard to do something that wasn't in your original plan.

I wish I was more aware of the things that were going on in your life because now I have a better understanding of what you were going through. So here are some things that I wish you would've known and things that I want you to know as you leave me yet again.

One, if you think no one is proud of you, I always will be. You decide that you want to throw away that degree and travel the world only spending five dollars a day, I'll help you pick the places. You decide that you want to work in a drive-thru for the next five years, cool. Just bring me back some chicken nuggets. Two, I'm the one person you can't disappoint. I'm always going to be rooting for you. I may not even say that, but it's true. Three, you can be two hours away or two minutes away, you're still going to be the first person I call when something good or bad happens. Four, whatever guy you bring home, I probably won't like based on the sole fact that I will always think that you deserve better.

You truly do deserve the best in life, just like anyone else would. Congratulations on your first degree and your first very own apartment. You conquered those two major life moments all on your own, and no one will ever be able to take that away from you. I can't way to see what other major achievements you'll complete.

Love,

Your Little Sister