I was born on Nov. 30, 2008, and I am the oldest of three children. My brother, Gavin, is two years younger, and my sister, Mallory, is eight years younger than I am. At the end of this month, I will be turning 18, which is a strange reality to process.

This time next year, I will be sitting in my college dorm with my roommate while my siblings are still at home. My brother will be a junior, my sister will be in fifth grade, and I will be a freshman. The thought of being away from my siblings aside from holidays, school breaks, and home visits has not really hit me yet. It is hard to imagine not seeing them everyday, much like I do now.

Growing up as the oldest of three kids has its ups and its downs, equally. A sibling is like a built-in best friend who will always be there by your side, whether you want them to be there or not. Siblings show up to your events, help you out, and build you back up after you’ve been knocked down. 

My brother, Gavin, is currently a sophomore at Leesville, so we are around each other almost everyday for a good amount of time. Gavin has an interest in video games, hanging out with friends, and watching/playing sports such as baseball, football, and soccer. He is much more introverted than I am and doesn’t necessarily go out of his way to meet new people. He also doesn’t easily accept or welcome the idea of things changing around him without a warning.

Meanwhile, I spend my time participating in theatre, joining clubs and honor societies, volunteering, and spending time with friends. Although I can definitely be introverted at times, I would consider myself much more of an extrovert. I enjoy meeting new people and making new friends. I also go out of my way to try new things, with a strong willingness to travel out of my comfort zone. Although my brother and I share many differences between the two of us, we are still able to get along really well with each other; most of the time, that is.

My sister, Mallory, is a fourth grader at one of my neighborhood elementary schools. I often like to say that she is the perfect mix of my brother and m. Like my brother, she loves sports and is very involved in soccer, swimming, and flag football. She is also very competitive and enjoys playing video games with her friends, specifically on Roblox. However, like myself, she takes every opportunity she can to be in the spotlight. She has done a few theatre-involved activities, such as when she played Pearl in a community youth production of “Finding Nemo.” She also makes new friends super easily and loves to play pretend, just like I did when I was her age.

My brother and my sister both mean the world to me. Having grown up with two younger siblings by my side, I do what I can to set a good example for the both of them. I want to give my siblings an older brother who they feel like they can come to for advice, if they need a shoulder to cry on, or if they just need a listening ear. Even when we will not be living under the same roof together anymore, I still plan on keeping a close and tight-knit relationship with both of my younger siblings.

Although being the oldest sibling does come with many benefits and blessings, it is not with a lack of some negative aspects as well. Being the eldest sibling does come with a lot of responsibilities however. Responsibilities of being the oldest sibling include taking care of my younger siblings, making sure that they stay out of trouble, and consistently staying reliable and trustworthy. As the oldest child, this also makes you susceptible to taking the blame for your younger siblings actions, whether you actually deserve to take the blame or not.

It can also be difficult to be the oldest sibling at times because you always want to be there for them, but sometimes your own life gets in the way. I always feel a twinge of guilt whenever I have to miss one of my sibling’s games, school events, or other activities.

At the end of the day, a sibling is a built-in best friend who is always there for you, regardless of whether you want them there or not. I hope to be the role model my siblings can look up to and admire. I look forward to seeing where life takes both of my siblings and how they will succeed in the future.