An older brother is one of the best things that a girl can have. At times, it can be challenging, but the end result is worth all of the times your older brother drove you crazy. Here are 11 things that having an older brother helped me with.

1. He taught me how to be tough.

Having an older brother taught me how to be tough from a young age. Naturally, boys are more aggressive, and it did not take me long to learn this when we were play fighting. I learned really quick how to be tough as nails and how to get my head out of a headlock.

2. He taught me about sports.

In my opinion, it was always the best being the girl who actually understood football and baseball and I have my brother to thank for this. Although I was probably mad when I couldn't watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians because football was on, I'm glad I wasn't the girl who thought a touchdown happened during a baseball game.

3. He helped me understand boys.

Although this will never fully happen, having an older brother helped me to realize what guys are like. He never loved seeing me date, but he helped me find out whether or not a guy was a good fit for me and if I was ever in need of advice about a boy, he always knew better than I did.

4. He showed me how I deserve to be treated.

Having an older brother means that you are picked on by him, but it also means you learn how you should be treated. He always makes sure you have what you need and that you are treated like a princess. He taught me to never settle for less than I deserve, and because of that, I never will.

5. He is always there to protect me.

Having a big brother is the equivalent to having a personal bodyguard. It didn't matter who was bothering me or for what reason, but he would always step in and make sure that it ended there. And then nobody would ever mess with me because they knew who my older brother was.

6. You'll never know when you need his clothes.

It doesn't matter if you are dressing up for a spirit day, need big sweatpants and a big sweatshirt to be comfortable or just need to borrow a big flannel to look good, having a brother means having extra clothes, and what more could a girl want?

7. He makes sure you're not lame.

He's the kind of person that tells you how to carry your book-bag and whether or not that shirt is ugly. He never wants you to look silly one-strapping your backpack or wearing an awful shirt, because after all, you're his sister and a representation of him -- and he's going to make sure it's a good one.

8. He is always there when you need to cry.

It doesn't matter if you are upset because of a bad day or a boy, your brother will always be there to tell you that it is going to be fine. And if you are crying because of a boy, that boy better start running because nothing is going to make your brother more mad than seeing you upset about that.

9. He provides you with a lunch date always.

There is nothing he loves more than food, so he's basically always willing to go grab lunch with you. Not only does this mean that you don't have to eat alone, but it means that you get to catch up and talk about everything that is going on in your lives.

10. He sets an example for you.

This could be good or bad for him, but normally good for you. When you watch your brother get in a lot of trouble for something, you learn what not to do. But if you still do it, he's there to talk about how to deal with your parent's scold. He also sets a positive example, and teaches you how to be the best you can be.

11. He will always be your biggest fan.

He might not love it, but he will go to all of your chorus concerts and your dance recitals, partly because mom and dad will make him, but partly because he will always support you in whatever you do. He's always going to be your biggest supporter.

Having a big brother is one of the greatest blessings on this earth. Never forget to tell your big brother how much you love him.