I grew with two brothers. So, as a young girl I loved sports, I collected Pokémon cards and I wore my big brother’s hand-me-downs. Sibling activities included baseball in the backyard, basketball in the driveway, and watching my brother launch my Barbies down the staircase in my Barbie convertible; but as long as he was playing with me I didn’t mind.

When I started middle school, I was way behind on the things that started becoming important in my girlfriend’s lives like makeup and fashion. By the time high school rolled around I was tired of being the only girl. I wished I had a sister.

Then, Freshman year, my wish came true. Somehow the girl who would become my stepsister that summer was my age and the coolest person ever. As our lives started to merge together so did we. When I moved to St. Louis she introduced me to her friends and welcomed me with open arms into her life. I didn’t know anyone in my new town, but with my step-sister around that didn’t matter.

When I ended up going to the same college as my step-sister she welcomed me with the same enthusiasm as she did when I moved to St. Louis. I felt so lucky to be known as “Kay’s step-sister” and I told everyone I met. More than ever it felt like I had a real sister; traveling home on breaks together, FaceTiming our parents together, and even having a class together. During my second semester, I joined her sorority. We both cried with happiness when we became sisters again.

I started thinking about how important my step-sister is to me last week when she learned that she’ll be studying abroad Paris next fall. I can’t imagine not having her around now that our lives are so connected. Some people take their sisters for granted; they’ve been stuck together for their whole lives. I could never take my step-sister for granted. She looks out for me, she listens to me, she has shared everything in her life with me and I will never be able to express how thankful I am for that.