I was trying to figure out what one thing shaped the person I am today, and obviously my parents had a huge impact, but even more so than them was my older sister Megan. I am the baby in the family and Megan is 9 years older than me. She was the perfect age to see her as a role model, but not so old (like my parents) to feel like she was just preaching to me about what was right and wrong. When I was in elementary school I thought it was so cool that my sister was in high school, and when I was in middle school I thought it was cool that she was in college. I have always wanted to be just like her and followed her steps from age 2.I grew up watching her play fastpitch softball and I was so excited when I finally turned 8 and could start playing, too. Not only did I want to play fastpitch like she did, but because she was a pitcher, I also wanted to be a pitcher. I actually started trying to copy her pitching motion when I was only 3 or 4 years old. (I couldn’t find a digital copy of a picture of me that young, but this still shows how she influenced me to become a pitcher.) I even copied that fact that her jersey number was 4. Megan led me to want to play softball, but softball itself played a huge impact on my life as well. Softball taught me what it was like to compete at the top level, how to work as a team, and how to be a leader. It taught me how to set goals, work hard, and achieve whatever I set my mind to. Most importantly it taught me how to be competitive which I believe has accounted for my successes in sports, academics and in general. My senior year I was captain and lead my team to win the Lake Conference title. Coincidently my sister was also captain for her senior year.
I continue to follow her footsteps today. When I was trying to decide what college was best for me, the first place I looked was at the University of Minnesota, specifically Carlson, because that is where she went. Obviously that is where I decided to go. Once I was accepted, I had to determine what major I wanted to pursue. Megan graduated with a marketing major, and that is the major I have chosen as well. Simply because my sister decided to go to Carlson and graduate with a marketing degree is not the only reason I have decided to follow suit, but she has been a great role model. She has been a great place to look for a starting point when I need to make big life decisions and has had a major impact on the person I am today.
I really relate to your blog because I also have an older sister that has helped shape who I am today. My sister and I also did a lot of the same activities like softball and dance. Although we are pursuing different degrees at different schools, many people around us say that our personalities and the way we handle things are pretty much the same. I think that growing up in the same environment and having a lot of the same experiences has made my sister and a lot alike and that environment plays a huge role in how a person develops.
ReplyDeleteI can also really relate to your blog! My sister is ten years older than me, and I love the age difference, because it really does make them such a role model and help shape your life because you see them grow up step by step. I also played soccer 12 years because of her, and pursued nursing because she led me to it. I think siblings are really important in people's lives, for growing up, role models, and a lot of other reasons. My parent's weren't around as much as she was, I can say that she easily raised me more than anyone else, and it's a great relationship to have. Especially once they start having kiddos too!
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