My little sister is one of my best friends and someone I could not imagine not having in my life. I bossed her around like it was nobody's business when she was too young to know, blamed my mistakes on her, and covered for her when she was going to get in trouble. She is suddenly a freshman in high school now and growing up before my eyes. These are eight things I realized that my not so little sister is growing up.

1. She is just like me.

Not only does she look like me, she has my sass, my attitude, and skills I have since growing up.

2. She is going through the "don't talk to me" phase.

Whenever I try to FaceTime or have a conversation with her she ignores the call but I know she misses me while I'm here at college. She will never admit that she likes me coming home to visit. She can pretend to hate me all she wants but deep down she loves me.

3. She is going to start dating.

This makes me feel really old because we are about six years apart. I'll be there for her when the boy she really liked breaks her adolescent heart.

4. I will still beat someone up if they mess with her even if she can defend herself.

Obviously I won't actually hurt someone, but I do pose a threat. My older sister said the same to me, so I am to pass on the favor to the youngest.

5. She knows when I am in the wrong and will call me out for it.

She sees my 2am snapchat stories and tells me when I make a mistake and need to stop messing up. It makes me proud that she knows when I am doing wrong and has the guts to tell me to shape my act together.

6. She will always need me when she doesn't want to go to Mom and Dad.

If she needs me to pick her up at a party she shouldn't be at, I'll be there so she won't get in trouble. If she needs me to vent about something, I'm on the other line.

7. She looks at me as a role model.

Knowing my sister wants to be like me is an honor and makes me want to do better and achieve things I never would have imagined. I've done a lot of growing up to make sure I can be someone she can look up to.

8. She will always be my little sister.

No matter how old her and I get, at the end of the day she is still the baby in the family and will always be my little sister.

Thanks to my little sister, Allison, for letting me learn how to be an older sibling and having me take responsibility for someone other than myself. Don't you worry, I'll be home sooner than you think to mess with you. I don't say it often... I am proud of you.