Gracie: Leading the Legacy
When you get a sister, you get a built-in best friend. You get someone you can tell all your secrets to, hang out with, gossip about boys with, and someone who will be by your side through thick and thin. But having a little sister means, setting an example, being a leader, and learning from your own mistakes and experiences so you can pass your wisdom down.
I am the oldest of five siblings, leaving me with a lot of responsibilities that my younger siblings don’t have to worry about. I am constantly having to look out for them and be their friend while simultaneously being a good example for them to follow after.
I am also the first person to experience new things. I, unlike my siblings, had no fun stories to hear about, or warning of things not to do, when trying something new. I had to figure everything out on my own.
Having to experience something new no matter how big or small it may be is always difficult but having someone who has been through the same thing before, makes the transition much easier. Being the oldest I didn’t have this person.
It is much harder having to build those bonds and relationships and establish a good reputation for not only you but your family than it is to come into a place with an already positive association to your name.
All that is left to do at that point is to try your best and keep the legacy alive for the incoming siblings. So if you have an older sibling make sure to tell them thank you every once in a while because without them you might find that your life would be much more difficult.
Emma: Upholding the Legacy
You raise your hand to answer a question and your teacher accidently blurts out the wrong name. The teacher apologizes and goes into a long speech about how your older sibling was their favorite student and how good of a kid they were. It never fails to happen every year.
The same annoyance fills you every time. Every conversation I have she is almost always brought up.
Everywhere I go her name follows. It’s like she’s a part of who I am. Every conversation I have she is almost always brought up.
Your sibling has a huge influence on how you are perceived by people. In my circumstance it was a good perception, but this is not always the case. No matter what you do or who you meet, others already have a previously formed opinion about you.
I am always the second one to go through things, so I don’t get to experience anything for myself.
My sister had already told me what to do and how to do it so I never got to learn how to do things for myself. I want to do something where I don’t have the pressure of doing as well as my sister and following in her footsteps.
Everyone thinks that when you are the younger sibling you have it made but in reality that’s not the case.
All they talk about is how easy it is to be the little sister but what they don’t understand is that being the little sister means constantly being under pressure, being compared all the time, and not being able to experience anything for yourself. So don’t be so quick to thank the older sibling; give the younger siblings some recognition.
