"And Jenna used to bite Rebecca and she would go off in the corner and cry!"

My mother spewed this story through bites of her bacon burger at our latest family reunion. Rebecca and I, desensitized to the horror stories of our childhood, laughed nervously and shared an exasperated look. The amount of times our family has reminisced about the good ol' days when I used Rebecca as my rag doll are uncountable. Without a doubt, I was deemed the devil child. A common childhood game Rebecca and I would "play" consisted of me assuming the role of a speedy airplane while chasing Rebecca around the house until I "flew" her over.

Although a lot of the time, our childhood consisted of me maliciously bullying her, we still (surprisingly) had a cheerful childhood. Our days consisted of us crafting hopscotch boards on the driveway, deviously stealing warm peanut butter cookies from the kitchen, and starring in our very own ingenious T.V. shows. We considered each other playmates, but it was not until we were older that we formed a close relationship.

It was when I entered high school that my sister and I started to look at each other as friends, rather than two people that share the same parents. I began to vent to her about the arduous transition between middle school and high school, and she in return started to express her worry about what college she would be accepted to. Afternoons were spent running side by side at cross-country practice, followed by nights wearily completing homework at the dining room table. I was devastated when she left for school the following year, plagued by the fear that our tightly knit bond would loosen. Surprisingly, college brought us much closer, and forced us to realize how much we appreciated one another.

I genuinely feel sorry for those who do not get to experience the joy of having a sister. Even if you are not close with her, it's such a comforting feeling to know you have another person in this world that shares some part of your life with you. Whether you both have the same sloped nose or cackle the same charming laugh, the beauty of having someone who is inevitably connected to you, no matter the circumstances, can bring such solace.

I'm so blessed to have my sister, because she is not just a person that I am related to. She is the person who eats Cheetos, Snickers, and Fruit Roll-ups with me while watching "30 Rock." She is the person who will sing while I play piano. She is the person who I will call sobbing during the quiet hours of the night, telling her about my latest predicament. I cherish my sister because she is not just my sister; she is my mentor, my role model, and my dearest friend, and I am so incredibly grateful to call her mine.