Not to brag, but my second year of college is absolutely rockin’. Everything is going so well above and beyond my expectations. I have settled into my organizations, joined the band, published my first book, found my people, finally learned how to be a college student, and Texas A&M on its own is reason enough to call this year rockin’.

I can’t even wrap my brain around the fact I am halfway done with college after this year! WHAT!? Time truly does fly when you’re having fun, and I am having the most fun of them all!

However, college is so far from perfect. I am perpetually exhausted, actual school work is pretty stressful, and it’s super difficult to balance sleeping, working out, eating, a social life, grades, and the fact that I’m a dedicated groupie for several bands and have to attend as many concerts as physically possible.

Despite all of this, the hands-down most awful thing about college is that I am separated from my parents and partner in crime of a brother. I believe college is hard no matter what, but I also believe that it would be much easier if I had my baby brother by my side at all times. There are just some things only he can do. His role in my life is unique and irreplaceable, and I am a better version of myself when he is with me.

For starters, we tell each other literally everything. I can recall so many nights where we have laid on my floor or my bed for hours just talking about anything and everything from school, Jesus, life in general, or how much we like or dislike certain people. Sometimes ice cream is involved, sometimes Parks and Recreation is involved, but no matter what, laughter is involved.

When we have a conversation, super deep and meaningful or not, there’s just no filter. We never really hesitate to tell each other anything, and I feel like that filter comes into play for me when I talk to just about anyone else. If I need to talk to someone just to decompress or process, he’s the perfect person to do so to.

When I’m away at college, sometimes the distance gets the best of us and we go days or weeks without actually talking. We default to gifs and text messages due to the fact that I get up way too early and he stays up way too late. I would much rather just walk upstairs only to glance back and find him instinctively following me ready for a party of two.

I need to eat meals with him. Sometimes on super busy, long days, a cup of coffee ends up being two out of my three meals and I am just as hungry as all get out upon arriving home, yet I'm far too tired, so sleep ends up winning over food. When I eat a meal with my “little” brother, it’s practically a competition.

If I dare to ponder aloud and ask, “Hmm, shall I go in for seconds?” he’s already passing me the entree. Who doesn’t love a nice and large meal (especially if it was cooked by THE Kellie Walker), and who doesn’t love the best company in all the world to share it with?!?! Throwing down on some food is a bonding activity we have quite literally perfected.

He’s more than my brother, he’s also my friend. He sticks up for me, goes on adventures with me, works out with me, kills the bug for me, and so much more.

We share musicianship, quick wit, and the need to take showers hot enough to burn off human flesh. He has grown to love my music taste, and I have grown to be able to put up quite the fight when doing the dishes together turns into an emergency wrestling match.

I can’t emphasize enough the fact that we are literally always laughing when we are together, it’s almost as if no one else exists but us, our bad jokes, and excruciatingly awkward stories we have racked up to share with one another. I couldn’t ask for a better person to always have on my team.

As the older sibling, I have been able to watch him grow up from a little boy not being able to pronounce his R’s correctly to a young man who leads by example with selflessness, the best humor around, and one of the biggest hearts (and stomachs) I’ve ever encountered.

We have always gotten along beautifully, but now that he is older, we surpass the sibling realm and enter into the best friend one. He’s not just someone I lived under the same roof with for eighteen years, he’s someone I continuously do life with.

If absence makes the heart grow fonder, attending college three hours away from my little brother has made me as fond as possible of him. The FaceTimes, text message tag, and occasional weekend visit are what keep us on the same wavelength until we are back to binging Blue Bell and Criminal Minds alike with the same shocking fervor.

Justin Walker, you are the chips to my queso and I love you more than all of the concert tickets in the world! As of right this minute as I write this, only fourteen days until we are reunited!