I promised my parents I would never, never, ever attend the same college as my older brother. After being forced to tour it I was even more set on that idea. Perhaps it is because of the rain and hail that occurred during the tour, or the fact that I was in my crop top and shorts that made me most miserable. But here we were two years later starting at the same school Collin was set to graduate that year from. Contrary to popular belief we were not always close. When he left for college we spent an entire semester not talking to one another. I believed that would be the case when our parents left, we would go back to old habits of little communication or frequent fighting. What happened, however, was my older brother becoming one of the most influential people in my life. Helping me choose classes, a sorority, dorm, friends and even lunch spots. It seemed our relationship was completely different.

I was constantly over at his apartment, using the washer and dryer, eating his food, getting to know his fraternity brothers, and even interacting with older girls of a sorority I would later join. People did not often believe us at first when we said we were siblings probably seeming more like a frat groupie then a little sister. Eventually everyone seemed to know though and I became the dubbed little sister to pretty much all of his friends. Some of my best memories from college are that first year, and I owe it all to him. Even though we had been siblings for 18 years it was my first year of college I felt that we were finally friends. He came through on his promises to me and our parents that he would take care of me. He invited me to all his parties, used my meal swipes, and drove the majority of the eight hour way home every single time.

It seemed that a lot of who I was, or rather who I am is because of him. After college we aren't as close having our own lives now in Alabama and Nebraska. We may never be as close as we were that one year but I wouldn't change it for the world. So if you are lucky enough to have your sibling attend the same college as you, take advantage of it. Use their meal swipes, give them rides, make them cooler by introducing them to your older friends. And most importantly realize that your sibling is your only predetermined friend in life so treat them as such.