I was always the first one to finish drawing my family portrait back in elementary school. That's because there were only three people in it: my mother, my father, and me. How I longed for the quintessential family, the ones with two children and a dog. All my friends had siblings, and to me, it seemed like they had a built-in best friend from day one. However, being an only child also taught me a few things, and shaped me to be who I am today.

1. I learned how to be independent.

I never had an older sibling to give me first-day-of-school pointers or go to for homework help. Every day was a new learning experience, which helped me learn to think for myself.

2. I learned how to be imaginative.

When my parents were busy, I was forced to find creative activities things to do that didn't require a partner. I found out the sad way that you can't exactly play catch with only one person.

3. My room could have been mistaken for Toys "R" Us.

My parents filled the void of not having siblings with stuffed animals and toys. Ask any of my 5 American dolls; we had a blast playing tea party.

4. I learned how to have mature, intellectual conversations at an early age.

Not having any peers in the family made me accustomed to talking to grownups.

5. Birthday parties were over the top.

6. I learned how to take responsibility.

I didn't have a sibling to place to blame on and "the fish broke the vase" wasn't exactly the most convincing argument.

7. I learned how to make friends quite easily.

The stereotype of only children being shy was definitely not the case for me. Not having siblings made me all the more eager to go out and meet new people. I befriended the first person I could find. On the downside, I might have come off as too clingy. :/