To my rock during first semester:

When my older brother first brought you around, I remember I tried not to like you and figured I never would. My brother had had girlfriends before, but never like you and I was a little skeptical. Regardless, you soon became more of a friend to me than any past girlfriend of his had ever been; you asked me to get lunch, to get our nails done, and came over to hang out even when he wasn't home.

All throughout my senior year, I watched you make the trips and do the distance to the college I wanted to attend and when I thought I wanted to go somewhere else, you quickly shot that down. And I'm so grateful you did.

I didn't think we'd ever see each other on such a big campus and wow I was wrong. Showing up in August, I stayed at your apartment the first night so I wouldn't have to stay in my brand new and half-empty dorm room alone until my roommate arrived the next day.

You helped me navigate my classes and pointed out classrooms I'd visit every week, you even brought me a gift with thoughtful goodies inside the night before classes began and made sure to text me the whole first week to ensure I was still sane.

You motivated me to go to the gym and met me there countless times for workouts, took me on Kroger runs when I really could not handle any more dining hall food, and talked to me about your lows and made me realize I wasn't alone.

Even when your relationship with my brother hit a rough patch, the texts and check-ins, constant reassurance and love I received from you never dwindled. You asked no questions when I asked you to drive me to the hospital after a bad roll of my right ankle and happily waited hours for a nurse to come up with a diagnosis.

You asked me to go to a new church with you near campus and even though church wasn't my thing, I said yes and it changed my life.

You were my ride back to my dorm after tailgating a little too long, when I really didn't want to walk back from psychology, when I wanted to go play with the puppies at the mall, and all the way back home, a whole 3 and a half hours north.

You have been something constant and so very important in my life during my first semester of freshman year, I don't think I could've made it through without you. Moving on into the second semester of my freshman year, I'm realizing more and more that come May you will no longer be right across town and there whenever I need you.

Regardless of this, you will always hold a special place in my heart no matter where you go because you were here looking out for me and being the person I needed so far from home.

You genuinely feel like an older sister to me and I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything in the whole world. As you prepare to move on with your life and get a big girl job, I'm preparing myself for next year too, when you won't be walking around the same campus and always just around the corner.

Whether you know it or not, you've made such a massive difference in my life and especially my freshman year of college and as I move on into my second semester I am coming to realize that I can't wait for the day you're officially my big sister.

Love, Jess