The first two years of college have been a whirlwind of change: change of cities, friends, lifestyle and education. It seems like everyday something new was happening. For the longest time in freshman year, I had no idea what I’d be studying. My friends and I would make plans and then in a split second, the plans would be different. However, one thing that has been constant throughout my first two years in college: having my sister, Tess, there in college. Until now. Tess will be graduating from Madison, and obviously good for her…go off queen! But her graduating will result in leaving me in Madison all alone, by myself with no one but my loving group of friends. With that, I’m going to reflect on 5 things I’m going to miss about having a sister in the same college.
- Our “Study” Dates
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When I say “study”, I mean, pre-pandemic we’d meet at a library, computers open, and we’d spend most of our time catching up and being annoying to each other because after all, we still are sisters. I can remember one time, us actually sitting in the library studying, but only because I had an exam that week. When Tess wasn’t looking, I’d be the fun little sister that I am and take pictures of her, mocking her and really not be quiet. “Studying” with Tess is something that I am going to miss.
- Our Weekly Dinners
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Every week we’d set aside time and we’d make dinner together and catch up. Freshman year, I would take the 20-minute “hike” and she would make dinner and I’d have a home-cooked meal. It was a time for me to wind down and not always be on the go in dorm life. Sophomore year, I returned the favor and cooked her meals as well. We’d have wine and watch the Kardashians. Towards the end of our time together, whenever we’d meet, Diet Cokes from McDonald’s would always accompany us.
- Gamedays
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Going to gameday with Tess was such a surreal and fun experience. “Pre-gaming” involved going shopping and hanging out with her and her friends. For the actual game, singing the different songs, doing Jump Around and “explaining” what was going on during the game will always be memorable. Prior to coming to Madison, I never watched the football games with her, as she would go to the student section and I’d go watch the game with my family in the “regular” stands. But to be in the stands with Tess as a Freshman, as cheesy as it sounds, really made me feel like a Wisconsin Badger.
- Her Madison Knowledge
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As a freshman especially, the number of times I would have gotten lost would have been way higher had Tess didn’t come to the rescue. Not me running around campus in the rain, calling my sister saying, “I’m supposed to meet at College Library, but I don’t see it….I just see Helen C. White Library.” (They were the same place, two different names). Not Tess having to tell me the difference between The Education Building and Education Science building or saying, “Don’t call it East Campus Mall, call it the S.A.A.C.” She was my personal tour guide and saved me time and embarrassment from being lost. Furthermore, she would voluntarily look for classes for me and whenever I had questions about classes, she always knew the answer.
- Just Her General Presence
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As simple as it sounds, I’m really going to miss just knowing that Tess is in the same city as me. If I’m having a bad day, I know there’s always a place for me to go. If I’m bored (which is rare), I’d text Tess to see if she was bored (she never was) and ask to hang out. The thought of her being a short walk was always comforting and I knew that even if I felt alone, I wasn’t alone because she would be there.
Honestly, there isn’t much else to say other than I’m going to miss Tess. I will still be able to FaceTime her whenever I want, make her read my essays and ask her questions about school. I have to remind myself that just because she is leaving my city, she is not leaving my life. She is off to being a real adult, with an adult apartment, an adult car and an adult job. As much as I’m going to miss her, I couldn’t be happier for her as she enters her adult life.