I was born the second daughter to my parents in September of 2004. My older sister, Sarah, was born in May of 1998, which gave us a pretty large age gap. While only being about 6 ish years apart, we were 7 grades apart. This means our only times in school together ended when I was in second grade when she went off to high school away from me. Because of our age gap, we experienced life milestones at the same time; while I worried about the tooth fairy coming at night, she was dealing with moving to high school and teenage drama. This resulted in a changing relationship as we both grew, as I matured I felt us grow closer and closer. At the age of 19, I call my sister a true friend that I love so much.
I truly believe my sister is one of the kindest, most patient, creative, and fun people I have ever met. I have looked up to her ever since I was young, and even through sisterly bickering and arguing I see her as someone with wisdom and kindness. My admiration for her has only grown stronger with my start of college.
My sister played field hockey and lacrosse throughout high school, just as I did in my time in high school. However, she truly excelled in her athletic career as a club lacrosse goalie, leading her to continue her athletic career in college. She attended Wilkes University from 2016-2020 and secured a school record of 598 career saves, a number that is extremely impressive in the lacrosse world. At this same time, she was studying mechanical engineering in her undergrad. Now that I have also entered into studying engineering, I know how time-consuming and difficult the coursework for this major is. I’m endlessly impressed with how my sister handled her life and was able to do both sports and a rigorous major.
Additionally, my sister serves as a female role model in a male-dominated space, just as my mother does. In her major-related classes, she would commonly tell me about the ridiculous male-to-female ratio. This is something I have come to know very well, and understand difficult it can be to lack a strong female presence. She experienced difficulty in finding a community at first, but was able to find one in her later years within her college career. The women in her program stuck together well and uplifted each other, making difficulties feel smaller and provide support for each other. Her drive and work ethic despite stereotypes within engineering inspires me every day. In a majority male space, my sister made it her own, while also keeping up with her passions and talents.
She is a steady force and the best person to lean on for support. Whether I have a bad day or want to tell her some gossip I heard, she is always there to listen and provide some guidance. She encourages me everyday to push forward and make a space for myself and for other women, and I hope to be as strong and dependable of a person in the real world as she is.
Your sister sounds like a huge inspiration for you, and based on what you’ve shared about yourself in other blogs, it seems like you’re really following in her footsteps! I can’t imagine the work ethic she must’ve needed to balance engineering and a sport. The women in your family have created such a strong pattern of taking on male-dominate fields. Great blog!
I too have a sister, except mine is younger. We are about 5 years apart and the gap has been pretty difficult, so I can relate. Your sister’s experiences are very impressive. It is amazing to have someone to look up to and inspire you in your life. I thought my college experiences were very difficult and time-consuming. I can’t even imagine the amount of work she had to put in. I hope you have as much of a successful college career as your sister!
As someone with a lot of siblings I found your blog to be relatable this week. Though sometimes we may not want to admit it, our sisters can be great to look up to. I admire how you are able to highlight your sisters successes and look to her as a role model. Having someone so close to you that can also be considered a peer to look up to can be helpful when you yourself are embarking on a new journey as well.