As the lady of the house, I’ve had the privilege of assisting my father and brothers with wardrobe selection, gift purchasing, and bachelor pad home décor. They count on me for good counsel on short notice. Of course, we have a mother, and she lives with us, but for some reason they single me out as if I run a small consultancy above the garage.

Naturally, with each special occasion, it fell on me to prod my brothers to buy gifts—or at the very least, cards—for our parents. Fortunately for them, I know the difference between condolence and anniversary cards. This was perfect practice for my side hustle as professional relationship consultant to my brothers, available on-demand for last-minute gift advice. On one particularly memorable afternoon, one brother FaceTimed me for reactions to his sartorial selections for his 24-year-old girlfriend. After a handful of paisley blouses, I finally asked, “Where are you?” Learning that he was in Ann Taylor Loft, I swiftly recommended he drop the muted tones and proceed to Free People.

As the household Uber driver, I proved myself a reliable ride for both brothers ahead of a night of tomfoolery. While I didn’t provide chilled water or mints, my familial limo service was always judgement-free and heavy on Amy Winehouse. Granted, my sense of responsibility meant a night home chilling with Netflix while the boys frolicked. Never a point of resentment, it has taken time to appreciate that my role in this house sometimes keeps things together, demonstrating the genuine leadership that some can only describe in glib terms. It taught me that leadership doesn’t involve bossing people around as much as it requires the trust and respect of those in your care. What could be more moving than to have earned both from my brothers. From my experience growing up to making it through my first year of college successfully, I have found confidence in myself and in my abilities to achieve what I put my mind to, particularly as I begin my time at UGA and enter into my future in the field of finance.