“Siblings by chance, best friends by choice.” This quote pretty much describes the relationship between my brother and me. We haven’t always been close, since there is a four year age gap between us. We only became closer as siblings when I knew his high school years were coming to an end. There is one day that sticks in my mind that symbolizes our relationship. This sibling defining  moment was on August 23, 2015, the day my family and I brought Brendan to college. Of course I wished that my brother chose a college close to home, but he chose Norwich University. Norwich University is the military college of Vermont and happens to be three and half hours away. To say I was devastated would be a huge lie. I was very nervous for my brother, but I knew he would enjoy a college just like Norwich. I am the person I am today all thanks to my big brother. Brendan is my rock, role model and best friend. Let me bring you on a little journey down memory lane to this defining moment in my life.

During the long ride to Norwich, my brother and I tried to keep off each other’s nerves. We were just trying to fit all the teasing into one car ride to make up for the days we would miss. I was only teasing him to get my mind off of him leaving and being so far away. No matter what I did, I couldn’t fully comprehend that my role model wouldn’t always be around to help me through the stressful days of high school. Once we arrived, my family was given a schedule for the day. Brendan collected all of his belonging and met his two roommates Svab and Skinner. It was such a beautiful day, yet my mind was filled with gray clouds. Skipping forward to the actual orientation ceremony, “Families, you have ten minutes to say your goodbyes to your students. Rooks, please assemble into your assigned platoons as soon as possible,” ordered the President of the university. It was at that moment that all my emotions rushed into my stomach. All these crazy what ifs filled my thoughts. “What if it’s all too stressful for Brendan,” “What if he can’t keep up his grades with all the military training,” and “What if college changes him into a different person?” I didn’t even realize that I was crying until my brother embraced me in a hug and told me that he loves and will miss me so much. Although I never wanted to let go of my brother, I knew he needed to put on his brave face and march out with his platoon. Don’t get me wrong my brother is tough as nails, but he hasn’t ever experienced such high intensity training. In fact all the rooks would be treated as dirt for an entire school year until they were recognized as privates. My dad is a retired Navy chief and he gave my brother and his two nervous roommates a pep talk. “No matter how perfect you try to be, the cadre will find anything to yell at you for. Do not let them into your heads. One day you will be those upperclassmen and give the new rooks a hard time. Never give up,” my father explained. After this lovely pep talk, we sadly had to depart and go home without my brother. I think I cried the entire way home. The worst part was that I started my freshman year of high school without my number one by my side.

To this day, I am guilty of missing my big brother. It just seems so odd not having him around the house. Sometimes when I’m home alone I call for him to help me with a homework question. I then remember that he is over 200 miles away and not the room next door. This memory has really shaped my personality. When my brother was around I felt safer and less lonely. Now I feel lonely and I have become much quieter. I’m not blaming him for this at all, but I feel like it impacted on me in a negative way. This event also made me realize that I can be more independent rather than dependent and relying on my big brother. I can’t wait for Brendan to come home for the summer. I can enjoy my time with my rock, role model and best friend better known as Brendan. I am extremely thankful to have such a great relationship with my truly unique and amazing brother. My memory may have only been from a year ago, but it will be etched into my brain for my entire life. August 23, 2015 was the sibling relationship defining moment that we will remember forever.