College!!!!

My sister decided that she is going to become the second Nittany Lion in the family. Needless to say, I am pretty excited that she will be up here next semester. We both enjoy the same music and are avid guitar hero enthusiasts. We probably won’t be able to play guitar here but, perhaps, we’ll have a few jam sessions. So, as I have said, I am pretty excited. But it’s also hard to accept that she’s even going to be in college next year. There’s only a three-year age gap between us, so it’s not like I’m that much older than she is. However, I have grown accustomed to the stereotypic “big-brother” roles. I’m not over protective in the slightest, but I do maintain a healthy concern. For instance, right now I’m not sure how I feel about her current boyfriend but it’s ultimately her decision and I trust her judgment.

So naturally, even though I am excited that she’s coming to Penn State, I am also a little concerned. Penn State is such an incredible school. There are so many opportunities to be taken advantage, so many incredible people to meet, and so many memories to be made. But, with that said, it’s also easy to get lost here. I am not angel child. I’ve made my mistakes, gone out when I probably should have stayed in and studied, but I’d like to think that I’ve learned from them. And, in a way, I feel like I am more mature because of it. My sister is a good kid, so I’m not too concerned that she’ll get sucked into the wrong situations but – as an older brother should – I can’t overlook the fact that it’s a possibility, no matter how small it may be. Yet, as much as I want to intervene and help guide her through college (too the best of my limited ability), I think it’s important to give her some distance. Let her make a mistake every once in a while and let her learn from it. Sure, I’ll be there to give her advice if she so chooses to ask but college should be a personal experience. Even though it can be daunting and overwhelming, its best when you navigate it on your own.