I only posted one photo for my high school graduation, and this was the caption: “You shouldn’t follow your boyfriend to college, but you sure as heck can follow your brother!!” For awhile Ole Miss was not on my radar because I didn’t want to take over a place that was my brother’s. With only being twenty months apart in age and one school grade apart we spent the majority of our high school careers living in the same circles. After following in his footsteps through our whole lives, I wanted to give him some space. He deserved to have something of his own. But then he admitted that he believed Ole Miss would be the perfect fit for me, and I became more serious about the option. And then I decided to go here. Now, Ole Miss isn’t just his or just mine. It’s ours. We get to share it. All thanks to him. Of course, he’s still a nerd. But he’s my ride home, so I can’t complain. If your sibling dynamic is anything like mine, this is probably what will happen once you get to college.

1. He’ll let you hang out with his friends until you find your own group.

…and then you become friends with his group and he has to put up with you for forever.

2. Your pool of people to talk about will grow

You can still talk about all of the old high school gossip, but now there is a whole college campus to talk about.

3. You will still find the same people to dislike.

You have the same taste when it comes to people, and you will realize that you both dislike that one girl. You didn’t even meet her together. College really is a small world.

4. You will borrow his car to go to Walmart.

…and possibly end up keeping it out longer than necessary just to soak up the freedom.

5. You’ll spend 36 hours with only a dog to keep you company while he and his roommates are gone on retreat.

I mean, if your brother’s friends are anything like my brother’s.

6. He’ll invite you over to his place for dinner when he makes a meal from home.

But you’ll have to make the cornbread.

7. You’ll go on a lunch date once a week.

At first it’s to appease your parents, but then you will realize you really enjoy each other’s company.

8. He’ll still share all of his new music with you.

He has a knack for knowing the good stuff, and you appreciate all of the suggestions.

9. On the ride home you’ll jam to “Hamilton” (the musical).

…and text each other the lyrics of whatever song you’re listening to on the walk to class.

10. You might date his fraternity brother and end up carpooling to formal.

Hey, he has great taste in guys.

11. Your mom will still have to relay information between the two of you.

So what if we spend lots of time together? That doesn’t mean we tell each other the important stuff.

12. You’ll become closer.

There’s so much more to experience and talk about together now that you’re both trying to become adults.

13. Your college is more like home than it normally would be.

You don’t get just a college family, you get a college family that is familiar.