Dear Little Sister and Best Friend,

Thank you for keeping me sane and helping me with as much as you do. I can't even tell you how much I appreciate all of your help and pep talks, they have truly kept me sane as I make this huge adjustment to college. Thank you for FaceTiming me at all hours of the day, and for putting up with me when I want to see my bed or our house. I know it's weird, but you'll understand later. Thank you for texting me just to say you're thinking about me, it means the world. Thank you for listening to me cry or complain while also trying to do your homework.

Ever since we were kids, I've always been the one to take care of you. I helped you when you fell off your bike, when dad grounded you, and when your first boyfriend broke up with you; for the first time in a really long time, I was surprised when I needed you to kind of take care of me, and you did without even thinking about it.

I truly thought that it would be me coaching you through your first year of high school, but it was the complete opposite. You hit the ground running taking AP classes, making new friends, and figuring it all out without me--I am so proud of you. Instead, you were the one telling me that everything would be okay and that it wasn't the end of the world. I don't think I could have survived without you, and I just wanted to say thanks. I was so used to always being the one who knew how to navigate a situation, that I forgot what it was like to be completely lost. Even though neither of us knew what the right answer was, you always encouraged me to keep pushing and not stop trying to find my place here.

Even though I am all settled in now and have totally got the hang of things, I'm still going to call all the time to get your opinion on boys and outfits. We will still go on slushy adventures when I come home and I expect to hear about all the funny things that happened during your day. Its hard to be away from you since I've spent the last 18 years by your side, but I'm still your big sister and best friend, always.