I have three brothers and no, I did not get beaten up. In fact, I probably started the fights! I am always asked if I wish I had a sister or if I liked growing up the only girl. My answer is always that I have no idea what it is like to have a sister, but I am very blessed to have the family that I have, but I think brothers are very fun.

I used to always imagine what it would be like to share clothes and have the built-in best friend that a sister is, but brothers are who shaped me into who I am. If I think about my life and the big moments, I was prepared for them by how I was brought up to never take things too seriously.

Most of the time brothers are all fun and games but it was possible to feel lonely or disconnected from the rest of the family. As much as I always wanted to sit down and watch a baseball game on TV or go shopping at Dick's Sporting Goods, I would have rather not.

Sometimes I spent time alone, but this drastically aided me in establishing my own independence and discovering what I liked to do and what I was good at.

Though I did grow up in a boy-heavy environment I did not sway my own interests. I still had almost every American Girl doll and was a dancer for eighteen years of my life. I had plenty of girl friends but have always found having guy friends equally as important.

I was always encouraged to be my own person, and I feel as if having brothers gave me such a well-rounded personality.

One moment I could be up in my room playing with dolls and the next, I am in the front yard playing football with my brothers and their friends. And I was good at it! I am not a super girly girl, but I definitely like some of my amenities.

The house is always loud, there are always friends and guests over, and there is always something to do. Having brothers means they bring their friends over and many have started to feel like additional brothers, the family just keeps growing! I will always be protected not just by my brothers, but by all of their friends too. I love hanging out with all of them and truly feel that I have a way to fit in.

Since I am around males almost all of the time, I feel like I can understand them quite well. I know how they have the potential to act and how they act the rest of the time. I feel grateful and special to know the wonders of being the only girl. I cannot wait for the future and to see each of us grow and start our own families because I know that we will always hold our strong bonds with each other.