When I was a kid, I always wanted a twin. I thought it would be so cool to have someone to play with who looked exactly like me and was my best friend. My 17-year-old sister, Olivia, is actually a twin with my brother, but she looks more and more like me everyday, so I guess I finally got what I wished for. If you and your younger sister are like me and Olivia, you know how it feels to be told how similar you are in many different ways. This is what happens when you and your little sister are practically identical:

1. Everyone says you look alike (obviously).

Like...everyone. And not just your family. Anyone who knows the two of you can’t like an Instagram picture without commenting on how similar you look. One day, Olivia’s tutor pointed to a picture of me hanging on the wall and asked if that was Olivia. And things like that happen all the time.

2. Your parents confuse your names.

This probably happens with most siblings, but with us, our permanent names have become “Lauolivia” and “Olilaura” by our parents. You probably have some rendition of your name that’s mixed with your sister’s that you’ve grown accustomed to hearing when your mom is calling you down for dinner or when you overhear your parents talking about you. Even if you don’t live in your parents house anymore, they probably still feel like you’re there because they have your sister around.

3. Your pictures look like replicas.

Olivia hasn’t gone to prom or graduated high school yet, but I can bet that when she goes to those events and has her picture taken, they will look exactly like my prom and graduation pictures. You probably have pictures from milestone events that your sister is just now going through and you can definitely see yourself in her. It’s almost like you’re watching yourself go to the Homecoming dance all over again.

4. In your hometown, you get asked if you have a sister.

If you and your younger sister went to the same schools, your sister probably gets asked about you all the time. And if you were a good student, your old teachers are probably excited to have your sister in their class. Now that Olivia is going through the same high school I went through, our teachers and other faculty all ask her if she has a sister and comment on how similar we look and sound. I ran into a faculty member recently and he said there was someone with the same face as me walking around the school.

5. You sound like the same person.

Chances are, if you look alike, you probably also sound alike. Your parents probably can’t tell which one of you is talking to them from another room and when you answer the phone, people have to ask who you are. Olivia and I have the same voice, so distinctly, that when Olivia was speaking to one of our old teachers while his head was turned away, he thought it was me speaking to him.

If you’re watching your sister grow up to be an exact copy of you, you know how awesome it is to basically have your own mini-me without having to share a birthday. Having a sister is one of the greatest things ever, but having one that looks like you is even better, because she’s not just your sister, she’s your best friend too.