November 22nd marks a special day in history. The SOS signal was invented by an international radio station, the Xbox 360 by Microsoft finally went on sale, baby Hulk (aka Mark Ruffalo) was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and I met my little sister for the for the first time in the hospital. I remember the moment like it were yesterday. The year was 2000. I was four-years-old. The ending scene of the movie, Hook was playing on the hospital television screen. My mom was holding my sister, who was bundled in a pink blanket. Already she (my sister) was sprouting blonde hairs from her head. My parents decided to name her Kacie, which means someone who is extremely alert and has an abundance of energy. And oh did her name perfectly match her personality. It's so difficult to believe that the little sister I used to give piggyback rides around the house, and play Barbies/PollyPockets with, is turning sixteen. To honor this special moment of my not so little sister, here are some words of wisdom from Big Sis Alex.

Dear Kacie,

You are officially sixteen-years-old, which means a lot is going to change in your life. Not only will you be learning the fundamentals of driving once you have passed your written driver's test (which by the way is a total lie because it's ALL MULTIPLE CHOICE), but also the fundamentals of identifying the type of person you want to become. You'll mold your personality a few times, which will result in either the addition or subtraction of friends. But always remember that your true friends are the ones that have remained by your side through the most exciting and terrifying parts of your journey. Don't worry about the friends who ignore you in the hallways, or stop inviting you to sleepovers, hangouts, or parties. You are not a narrator, and therefore, have no ability to control their stories. Just remember to continue writing your own.

Speaking about writing, remember to keep your mind focused on the books, especially during this school year and next school year. While it is not my responsibility to monitor your actions (although sometimes I admit I can be a little authoritative), I want to see that smile on your face when you get accepted into the college(s) that you desire. You have so much potential to expand your thoughts with your mind and body through your amazing artwork, dancing, as well as the various sports that you play. I love how when I started the process of looking at different colleges, that you became so engaged and started making up your own college list of where you wanted to study. Not to mention, you already had a plan to study abroad in Paris for fashion. Now talk about being prepared. Just remember to work and play hard all of the time, and never lose your motivation, even when it may seem like you are surrounded by storm clouds.

Now we come to the most challenging subject that I feel is my responsibility to mention. The talk. No, I don't mean that type of talk. We already got that talk from Mom. I mean the conversation involving boys. Please remember to always stay true to yourself and never change who you are for some other guy. It took me a few years (and thousands of talks later with Mom) to learn that I must continue to improve myself, rather than changing who I am. Also, learning to love yourself is a huge step to finding someone who accepts you for who you are. And who you are is what makes you Kacie Nicole Liebman.

Remember, always enjoy the little moments you make in life, because those little moments will become everlasting memories. You are my best friend and I am so thankful to have you in my life. You may drive me insane the majority of the time, and we sometimes tend not to see eye to eye on certain subjects, but I will always love you.

And don't forget to live every day like a celebration.

Love,

Big Sis Alex