How often do family members who are cared for the most get the appreciation they need? What about ones that are there for every step in life, otherwise known as siblings? Unfortunately, some people never get to experience what it’s like to have a built-in best friend and a bully all in one. All jokes aside, the majority of families don’t realize how important their siblings were to them until they’re adults.
As a teenager, the idea of an older sibling moving is uneasy to imagine. Once they’re out, the memories still stay around the house. The random hole in the wall that only they know about, or the room that’s no longer fully lived in but was once somebody’s personal space. Of course, everyone wants to see their sibling succeed, which in most cases means them moving out to pursue their dreams in life, whether it’s two states or twenty minutes away; both distances feel like a punch to the heart at first. Paige Johnson, junior, is four years younger than her sister, Peyton Johnson. “She hasn’t fully moved out but is living at UNI while she is playing softball up there and attending school there, but she basically has moved out because she doesn’t get to come home often because of her schedule. I was sad when she went to UNI because it is a far distance from home, more than Kirkwood was, but we still text a lot, so I’m not as upset with it anymore.“
Furthermore, according to Psychology Today, “While growing up, frequent contact and a shared history provide siblings with close knowledge of each other’s quirks, worries, and joys. Sometimes, a person’s greatest moments of happiness and laughter are shared with siblings.” The memories made with a sibling as a child will forever be permanent. Logan Hendricks, sophomore, is a year and a half younger than his brother, Devin Hendricks, senior, “When we were younger, we shared a room in our creepy basement, and when one of us heard a noise, we would run to the other one’s bed and hide together because we were scared. Sometimes we would just sit there and wait it out to see if there would be another noise, but sometimes we would wait so long, we would just fall asleep, “ said Hendricks. It’s important not to take a second you have for granted.
Additionally, both Johnson and Hendricks agreed in their own ways that sports are something they look up to their siblings for, whether it’s for softball or weightlifting. The inspiration and drive to be better came from an older sibling. “I don’t think I would be anywhere near where I am today without him,” said Hendricks. For Johnson, she got to experience being on varsity as an eighth grader with her sister, who was also on the team before graduating. She expressed that she misses it very much and wishes they could have had a longer high school experience together.
Currently, no one can say where their friendship bonds with their sibling will be in the future; it’s truly unknown. Most people hope to stay close with their built-in best friend, but the only thing that is controllable now is the present; therefore, tell a sibling how much they are cared for and enjoy every second spent with them, because after all, everyone grows up eventually.
