I had always wondered what it would be like to have a brother. For most of, if not the entirety of my life, I have been surrounded by females. I have 12 cousins, eight of which are girls, and a full-blown army of aunts, mentors and other female role-models. So I don’t think it’s much of a surprise that, for most of my adolescent life, I wanted a brother. It wasn’t until this past summer that I realized how truly blessed I was to be able to grow up with the most amazing, influential, strong woman in my life: my sister.
Like most younger sisters, I was a pain in the ass. I instigated and taunted her, stole her clothes, probably spit in her food a few times—you know, the usual little sister antics. However, unlike most older siblings, my sister usually didn’t care that much. The lessons she has taught me about compassion and forgiveness are so plentiful, I know that I could never forget about them. I never fully understood what made her so forgiving because I was always one to hold a grudge. Arguments between us were probably different from any other sibling feuds because less than 10 minutes after we would be screaming at each other for disagreeing on whether or not Barbie should be taking a nap or doing gymnastics, she would be asking me to go catch butterflies with her.
My sister is like a gentle summer storm. She rolls into the lives of everyone she meets as a quiet, reserved, seemingly insecure girl and before you know it, she is shocking them with a lightning bolt of some ability nobody ever knew she had. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from growing up alongside my sister is to roll with the punches and tackle whatever life throws at you with the utmost pride, dignity and vigilance you can muster.
I remember the day my mom sat me down and told me that my sister had ADHD. I remember instigating a fight (my top talent in my household growing up) and it didn’t end the way it normally did between my sister and me. I don’t remember the exact words that she used when explaining it, but I remember thinking that my sister was different, which is something I never really understood until then.
Since that moment, I’ve spent years growing and developing alongside my sister, witnessing her achieve things that people told her she would never be able to do. Like graduate high school, for example. She’s a genius in so many spectrums of the word. Academically, she constantly surprises me. Emotionally and mentally, she is always teaching me new strengths. And overall, she has gained my complete faith, pride, respect and confidence.
So here’s to my big sister, as she begins her senior year of college: I have no doubt that you will do so much good for the world. Thank you for the lessons you have taught and continue to teach me and everyone you meet.
