Two of the best things that ever happened to me in life are my older brothers. Growing up with my older brothers, Jefferey and Jonathan, or "Wookie and Jon," they taught me so many lessons about myself. Because of those two guys, I have a profound understanding of one of the most bewildering, complex, and baffling phenomena, ever known to mankind, the male brain. I can without a doubt, say that I am the woman that I am today because of my big brothers. They taught me things like respect, humility, graciousness, and most importantly how to fight. Growing up I established a mindset that I am pretty much invincible because I knew I always had them in my corner, always looking out for me. I can easily say that I would never, and could never trade them for anything in the world.

There were so many times where I would wish that I was the only kid because to be completely honest, they drove me insane. If there were a list of things that annoyed me about those two, my pen would go dull and I would run out of paper. They shrieked, left me out of certain jokes because it “wasn’t for girls,” they left the toilet seat up, and they wouldn’t let me play basketball with them. From childhood to adulthood, I could never talk back, or stay out late, or have too many male friends, or date consistently because apparently, no one was good enough for their little sister.

Growing up with those two taught me so much about myself. I am a stronger woman because of them, and I am independent because of them. Even though they spoiled me, I truly thank them from the bottom of my heart because they understood the fact that even though I was the youngest and only girl, didn't make better than anyone, I was very special but never "too good" and so I am humble because of them.

They taught me lessons that have shaped me into the woman that I am today, and lessons that will continue to shape the woman that I will become. They have given me insight and taught me lessons about:

1. Patience.

Being patient is one of the most valued qualities that any young woman could ever have. They taught how to me how to calmly stop, listen, and think before I speak and react.

2. Men are emotional too.

If I didn’t have older brothers I would have never learned that men are just as emotional as women are, men cry, men understand when they are wrong and aren’t afraid to admit it. So, this predisposed notion that we have, where we think that men are heartless and they don’t have feelings, could not be more false.

3. They taught me how to fight.

You have to have thick skin as the youngest girl, absolutely nothing will teach how to fight more than having brothers. YOU WILL GET MADE FUN OF! It just comes along with the job so you have to deal with it! Fighting isn’t just a physical thing, it’s mental, when you’re mentally strong there isn’t any situation that you won’t think that you could handle. They taught me that the battle is the easy part and that the war makes true warriors, so in any situation, good or bad, I have the heart to take it on.

4. Responsibility.

I was never that child not to understand what sacrifice and the importance of responsibility was, I always wanted to be like my older brothers because I watched the way they handled responsibility, and luckily for me, I was one of their biggest ones.

5. Advice.

Whether the advice is about dating or school, friendships, or just life, their advice to me continues to guide me today. I can safely say that I have never been depressed about certain situations or mistreated because the advice given to me over the years has shaped my viewpoint of the world and continues to protect me from heartache.

6. The Male Perspective.

No one knows more about what guys want than guys, so I have never been a needy, annoying, or stuck up princess who can’t take care of her business because I was taught that most men hate women with that mindset.

7. The “I got your back” Concept.

My parents gave me the remarkable privilege of having two built-in best friends. I never have to worry about who has my back in this world, because I know two very special guys who will always be there for me no matter what happens in this lifetime!