On January 18, 2003, when I wasn’t even two years old, my life changed forever. I had to give up my own room, I didn’t have the undivided attention of my family members, but most importantly, I became a big sister. I mean, of course, I don’t remember what it was like to be an only child―I was two, well technically I was around a year and 10 ½ months. But I don’t want to remember; I love being an older sister.

Four years later, after a lot of begging, and I mean a lot of begging, my sister and I got the news that we had been hoping for. Our parents brought us into our den, sat us down, and said, “Girls, you are both going to be big sisters!” While recounting the story years later, my parents said that they couldn’t calm us down, no matter how hard they tried. The two of us were jumping on the couch and screaming in excitement. We couldn’t wait to have someone else to play with, and I was eager for my sister to experience the feeling of being an older sibling.

Shortly after our parents shared the news, we were all shocked to find out that she was pregnant with twins. On March 6, 2007, two beautiful baby girls were born, and I became a big sister once again. I didn’t realize how difficult it was going to be to set a good example and try to be a role model for my younger sisters. I can guarantee that at two years old I was not very helpful to my parents when I tried to take care of my sister. Maybe by six, I was slightly more prepared, but as I have grown older, I have noticed that all of the decisions that I make are made with my sisters in mind. My perspective about so many different things has changed just because I am able to call myself their older sister.