Senior biology and science education major
On Friday, we celebrated National Siblings Day. If it wasn’t marked on your calendars, perhaps you noticed the sentimental posts on social media complete with goofy throwback pictures to people’s awkwardly adorable youth. As the middle child in a family with three daughters, those photos stirred up happy memories of growing up with my sisters and the nostalgic feelings that go along with them.
Of course, being a sister is not all about the good old days we spent swaddling our cat in blankets like a baby or running a fake gourmet restaurant out of the playroom. Getting caught up in the fun of having siblings makes it easy to forget that being a good sister or brother is something that requires a substantial amount of effort.
It’s not a job in the typical sense and you definitely shouldn’t try to put it on your resume, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t responsibilities associated with the position.
Sibling relationships are complicated. We are more than friends, but definitely not one another’s parents. We can somehow at once be each other’s biggest rivals and strongest supporters. Fights can be ferocious, yet there is the unwavering understanding that you will always be a constant in each other’s lives. It is a relationship of juxtapositions that can only be truly understood and appreciated by the people in it.
Your siblings are in the unique position of thoroughly comprehending your formative childhood years in a way that even the lengthiest of autobiographies couldn’t convey. They can see your perspective because they lived it. It is this unrepeatable and irreplaceable relationship that creates a space in your sibling’s life that only you can fill.
While that might sound daunting, the truth is that you are completely equipped for the job. Years of shared experiences complaining about the same parents, arguments over how the chores were divided and seemingly endless road trips that violate every known principle of personal space have allowed you to observe your sibling in nearly every imaginable situation. And while familiarity might breed contempt, it also allows you to truly know someone.
Because no one can know my sister in the same way I can (except for maybe my other sister, that is), I have a special role to play in her life — one that no one else can.
I know how much harsh honesty and tough love she can take before she shuts down. I know whether she needs to rant or wants advice. I can push her buttons and make her laugh when she’s angry. It’s my job to use that insight to motivate, encourage and support her in the way she needs.
Many of us are lucky enough to have siblings who are easy to love, but being a good sister or brother isn’t just about loving your siblings. It’s about acknowledging the crucial role you play in their lives and fulfilling that role to the best of your abilities. We must aspire to bring about good in their lives and allow them to do the same for us.
Danielle Wilkin is a senior biology and science education major. She can be reached at dwilkindbk@gmail.com.
