In the hospital room where I was born, sat the most influential person in my life. Not my mother nor my father, but my big brother.

My mother was so pleased that we got along and made sure to take many photos to commemorate the moment. However, she was not as pleased when he taught me to climb out of my crib at four. Following that day my mother made him sleep in the room with me to make sure I behaved. That didn't work well. We ended up binging all the Car movies.

My brother, Nick, is three years older than me which wasn't a big deal until it was. When I was in middle school, we never talked. It felt like he had outgrown me, like I couldn't understand his new stage in life.

I was envious of his ability to manage a social life, sports, and academics. He had everything I wanted, smarts, popularity, determination. For the first year of high school, it was hard living in his shadow. Once he left for college, my drive to become like him grew. I had to get into UGA.

My senior year when the ballons dropped along my screen it felt like I had reeled him back into my life. He started to let me in on secrets and teach me how to navigate college. Moving to Athens has given me my best friend back. He continues to challenge me to become a more involved, well-rounded person.

While I'm sad, he will be leaving me soon all I have to do is walk back in his room and see the pictures my mom took in that hospital room of us laughing and I know he will be looking out for me even from 1,000 miles away.