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Growing Up With Big Sisters: What I Learned and How I Was Inspired

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.

I’ve always been a pretty proud individual, not so much about my accomplishments or the things I have done, per se, but more of the people around me. Ever since I was little, the one aspect of my life that I was always proud of was being a younger sister. The thing I’d tell people if I was meeting them for the first time was that I have two older sisters. One of my sisters is a year older and the other is four years older than me. Due to these small age gaps, we were all pretty close growing up. It was almost as if they were my test run. Everything I’d eventually have to do, they had already done. They gave me a sense of security and reassurance. Starting school, driving for the first time, and even moving out to go to college, I just followed in their footsteps. These events weren’t the only things I learned from my sisters. The real important things in life I also learned from them, and it wasn’t until I was older that I truly realized this. 

Confidence.

Now I know my sisters reading this right now are probably laughing and thinking to themselves there is no way they taught me this. But it’s true. Despite my typical friendly personality, I always struggled with other aspects of confidence, whether that be my image or my self-worth. I used to, and still do, worry about things that have no business to be worried about. My sisters struggled with the same thing, but I watched them deal with their insecurities in a healthy way. They worried when they had to, but also had confidence in themselves to get done what they had to get done. 

Standing up for myself.

I have always been someone who was scared to use my voice. I was scared to stand up for myself and make someone else mad or angry when I was the one upset. As a result of this, I let a lot of things slide. I don’t know if it was their protective nature over me, or simply them not caring what others thought, but my sisters always encouraged me to say what I was feeling. I watched them stand up for themselves, whether that be in a job setting, with friends, or even in romantic relationships. I became inspired and inclined to do the same. 

My sisters are truly my biggest blessing. I am forever grateful and fortunate to have two amazing, encouraging women to look up to. Since I was born, I had two automatic, built-in best friends who I knew were going to look out for me and be there for me forever. So, this is dedicated to them! Thank you, Emma and Litta, for being who you are and showing me what it’s like to be an inspiration to others. If you are lucky to have big sisters, you are lucky enough.

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Katie Hagearty

U Mass Amherst '22

Katie Hagearty is a senior at UMass Amherst with a major in communication disorders and minors in education and psychology. She hopes to become a speech pathologist one day and work with children. Katie has a passion and love for fashion, beauty, current events, and writing. She is eager to be involved in the Her Campus chapter at Umass as an outlet to write and reach others with her words and creativity.