Dear Sister,

I've seen a lot of these letters floating around the web, but we have a unique relationship, you and I.

We didn't start out this way. When we were younger, our age gap made quite a difference in the status of our maturity levels—four and a half years is a lot when I'm 10 and you're 5. Thankfully, the gap has narrowed as we've gotten older—20 and almost 16—and we get along much better. I'm happy to say we've blossomed over the past couple of years from just cat-fighting sisters to honest-to-goodness best friends. I'm glad you feel that you can call me for advice about anything: boys, makeup, how to deal with Mom and Dad. I could do without the texts saying, "Hey I borrowed 'x' from your closet, thanks!" but I smile and let you borrow my favorite booties because we were blessed with the same shoe size.

I get jealous. With me away at college, our parents' daily lives revolve around you, and that's a hard pill for me to swallow. I know that when I graduate, we'll have a year together at home again, but then you'll be off, and I'll be the one who their lives revolve around again, but for now the green-eyed monster engulfs me. This being said, babe, I'm immensely proud of the things you're doing and the milestones (set by me) that you're breaking through. All older sisters want is for their sisters to thrive and go out and do good in the world, and that's just what you're doing.

If I have one piece of advice to give you, it would be this: enjoy this time. Mom and Dad are all you, all the time, and you probably won't get that again in your lifetime. They want to spend time with you—spend time with them! It took me a while to accept that most of the time, they know what's up. I would love to be home with all of you, but I'm away at school. Take advantage of this time as much as you can.

On a different note, I miss you. I miss you more than anything. I miss our secret sleepovers and trips to the mall. I miss teaching you to do your makeup and what product to use in your hair to calm the frizz. I miss driving you to and from school and buying you breakfast. I love your face when I show up at home as a surprise, it's priceless. The milestones I miss (like you getting your varsity letter) break my heart, but please know I would be there if I could. I'm learning so much here at school, and when I get the chances to come home and tell you all about them, it excites me, because it's opening up your mind to what I'm learning too.

When you start your college search, you better believe I'm going to be right along with you, pointing out secret things you won't know to look for, and giving you questions to ask that you wouldn't know to ask. It's the least I can do for you, my dear. I love and miss you.

Love,

Your Sister in College