Imagine being the last one in the family, but also the priority
In my Hispanic household, the oldest child is the test dummy, the second is the goal setter, and the third, el bebe, is supposed to become a mix of them.
Growing up with two older siblings is nice but difficult at the same time. Every time I hear my name being called it always sounds like I’m in trouble. That’s sort of my fault…I was more of a troublemaker when I was little than they were. When they were young they would get punished, but I didn’t get much of anything. To this day, my parents are much more lenient on me.
There’s a big age gap between us. My older brother, Rossember, is eight years older than me, and my sister, Mayely, is five. While they were worried about me applying to college, I was worried about who I was going to play with during recess. And now they’re looking for homes, finding jobs and starting a new chapter of life while I’m finishing high school and figuring out what’s next.
Being the youngest made me mature faster. It was the only way to actually have conversations with my siblings. I was too young to talk about what’s going on in their lives, and they were too old to really understand what’s going on in mine.
For example, last year Rossember pulled me out of school early to eat and then go to the state fair.
“I know we’ve never really been close, and I want to change that now,” he said while we were eating. “I can help you with anything you need.”
This conversation really opened the door. Before, we really wouldn’t talk because of our age gap, but now that I’m at an age he understands.
The older I get, the more they help with everyday things and even assist me with my future. Rossember, is currently helping me pick out college majors that would best suit what I want to do in the future. And Mayely is guiding me in making the easiest but best academic path.
I haven’t even mentioned the advice that both of them have given me. From the smallest things, like how to write a proper email, to life-changing advice like what I could achieve right now and in the future. When I was talking with Mayely about my future and said I wanted to become a lawyer or even a doctor, she shot it down and gave me more realistic options. It did kind of mess with me, but it also reminded me to stay just a little more grounded.
I’m grateful not only to be the youngest in the family but also to have amazing people to mature alongside. They always want the best for me, and I appreciate everything that they have said to get me to be the person I am today.
