A Open Letter to: My Favorite Member of the Class of 2020

You're time has finally come. After 12 years, you are finally the kings and queens of the castle. Welcome to your senior year. As much as this year will be bittersweet for you, it will be the same for me. I have watched one upcoming senior grow and strive to be her best for the past 17 years of her life. I have already closed the high school chapter of my life, but there is something sad about watching my little sister do the same. Sometimes I think about my life and wonder how I've made it so far. I think about my high school years and I sometimes even forget that I am in college.

When I think back, I still picture my sister being this little girl in elementary school, who was scared she was going to fail the 3rd grade because she got a B on an assignment. It's crazy to think that the same little girl is now a senior in high school, who is taking honors classes and thriving with a 4.0 and above GPA.

This is my last year to help her get ready for her school dances, and cheer her on from the stands of Friday night football games and cheerleading competitions. Soon her senior portrait will adorn the walls of our house, right next to mine, serving as the only pieces of us left behind. Our parents will have the house to themselves, a feeling they've been waiting for since 2000... marking 20 years when you graduate.

I remember dressing you up, pushing you in strollers, and forcing you to wear ridiculous sunglasses that were way too big for your face. I find it hard to believe that you now drive a car, and can go anywhere you want to.

I remember finding out that you had cancer and thinking that I might become an only child. But here you are, entering your senior year of high school, still kicking butt just like you did when you were a little 2 year old in the hospital.

I remember having to drive you everywhere when I got my license and mom didn't feel like taking you. I guess I became your honorary mother... or as I like to call myself "personal chauffeur."

I remember when we were little, we made up stories about being business women, living in the high rise buildings of New York, drinking hot water and pretending it was coffee.

I remember our bickering and arguing, and fist fighting. All of the hair pulling, name calling and teasing. (That we still do, but hey what else are sisters for).

I remember all the times I had to be shipped to Mommoms to spend the night when you would trip and fall or crack your chin open on the side of the pool and have to spend the night in the ER.

I remember never getting to be the blue piece in any of the games that we played, because blue was your favorite color, and since I was older, I wasn't allowed to pick my color.

I remember never believing that one day, we would grow up and love each other. But here we are, best friends, who dance the night away at Shawn Mendes concerts!

But now, as I look back at all of those memories, I realize that all of the things that Mom always told us about how we would be best friends when we grew up, are true.

I can't wait to be there to give you some eyebrows for you last homecoming, last prom, and most importantly, your last moments of being a high school.

I can't wait to see you cry when you get accepted into Pitt, and to help you go shopping and pack all of the things you will need when you start over as a freshmen. Except this time, you won't need me there to guide you, because we'll be guiding each other.

As you take on this last year, I have a few things for you to remember.

1. Stay Grounded- Your senior year is your last one, and I know that you'll be covered in mountains of school work. Make sure you get it all done, but don't forget that there's other things in your life that are important to pay attention to as well.

2. Don't Stress- if there's one thing I know about you, it's that you are always stressed out about the craziest things. FORGET ABOUT THEM. Your senior year is about you and nobody else! Take some time and do things you would have never done before.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...

3. HAVE FUN!- It's your last year of high school, let loose and don't worry too much about all the things you have to do. One thing I know is that if you do nothing, you'll regret it. Take some time, and go crazy, because this is the last chance you have to fun with the group of people you've spent the last 13 years with. Don't let anything hold you back, and have the most amazing year of your life, because before you know it you'll be in college starting all over.

Until next time,

Lindsey