For the first eight years of my life, I prided myself on being the youngest child. Because I was the youngest, I didn’t have to sit in the third row of my parents’ SUV during car rides; I was allowed to sit in the middle row on my booster seat. In sibling arguments, I never got any punishments because I was “too little to know better.” Life was definitely comfortable, and I did everything possible to take advantage of my status within my family. However, that all changed after my mom announced that there was going to be a new addition to our family: who I believed was a new, younger, cuter sibling.
To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of being replaced. I even cried for a few days. Eventually, I came around to the idea of having a baby sister. I thought I could dress her up in bows, brush her hair, and paint her nails. Then, I found out it was a baby boy, and I cried once again. But once I met Charlie for the first time, everything changed.
To understand Charlie, one must understand his interests. His one true passion (at the ripe age of nine) is soccer, and I am extremely proud to say I was his first coach. I’ve seen Charlie learn how to dribble around colored cones to score goals from beyond the halfway line, watching as many of his games as possible. If he’s not watching highlights of his favorite soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo, then he is attending evening training sessions, and his dedication truly speaks to his character as an aspiring professional athlete and as a person.
To many, Charlie is a teammate, a classmate, or a student. But to me, he is my best friend. Not many 17-year-olds can say that their best friend is in 4th grade, but I truly see him as an extension of myself. If I am invited to hang out with my friends, I always ask if Charlie can come too. Whenever I’m craving junk food, I know that I’ll always have someone right by my side. At home, I force Charlie to come to my room so we can do homework together.
It’s very easy for people to love Charlie because of his humor, his laughter, or his honesty. But I love Charlie because of his compassion towards others. In soccer, he pairs up with newer athletes struggling to score, not just to help them develop their training, but to make sure everyone has a friend. When he sees people who are upset, he makes every effort to make them feel comfortable, whether it’s with a joke or with a hug. And when his teammates are hurt, he is the first person to run to them and ensure they will recover. It’s hard for me to comprehend that at nine years old, Charlie encompasses so many traits that many adults wish for.
Charlie has taught me the true importance of being an older sibling. Because of Charlie, I know the newest trends, the best fast food restaurants, and all the reasons why Ronaldo is considered the “greatest of all time.” But most importantly, Charlie has taught me patience, admiration, generosity, and kindness. Because of him, I’ve discovered the joy of being a big sister.
So thank you Charlie, for your endless laughter, your warmth, and for being the best brother and friend anyone could ask for.
