It's funny for me, being your sister, to listen to your stories of clinicals and how much they made you smile today or this day doing all these different things, and while I listen to the way you care for them, all I can think about in the back of my mind was how many wedgies you gave me as a kid and how you were always punching me and wrestling me to the ground until I tapped out.
Today it's even crazier to believe that in one week's time, you'll be walking across the stage to receive your bachelor's degree in nursing, and in three months time you'll be working in the Emergency Department at Strong. Four years ago, I was crying at our front door when I had to say goodbye to you, and now I'm sure I'll be crying at your graduation thinking about how your room isn't going to be right next to mine at home and your apartment won't be two minutes around the corner from my dorm.
Although this is my first year at Brockport and your last, it's been so amazing to see the journey you’ve had and the name you’ve created for yourself at this school. From day one you’ve always been so determined with your grades, that I can recall you being almost in tears due to the fact you got one B on your microbiology test. Anything less than the best was never your style. You kept your chin up throughout all of your eight-week intensive summer class of A&P that mom and dad made you take.
Although I've never told you, and you would never believe me if I did, I envy you and all that you’ve accomplished these past few years. You never once fell short of the Dean's list, you somehow managed being a full-time employee and a full-time student, and my biggest jealousy moment of all: you’ve always known who you are and what you wanted. I've never seen you once falter throughout the entirety of this process, and I've certainly never seen you question yourself. Although, I know there's been more than enough tears shed these past few years, you’ve never given up, and that’s what truly impresses me. I know they say that sisters are never truly supposed to get along, there will never be a day where I'm not calling you my best friend.
So before I say the big congrats, let me say thank you. Thank you for continually believing in me, thank you for the late-night study sessions, the number of groceries you bought me and meals you’ve paid for. The sleepovers where the only thing I can seem to focus on is myself, but you always listen. It's going to be such an amazing thing to watch you go out and help the world, and I know you'll be great, because I've honestly never seen anyone's eyes light up when talking about your clinicals and the gross things you may have seen. So what I hope for you as you go forth is to never forget your loving touch and how big your heart is, and I really pray for the first person that may send you over the edge at work, cause Lord knows your temper when you're angry. With all that being said, Con-grad-uations! I cant wait to see the amazing nurse you're bound to be.
