Well, hey there Hannah, aka little sisa��. I bet you never saw yourself as being the topic of one of my articles, but the way I see it is that it would be a crime not to.

Hannah, you have been by my side for as long as I can remember. When Mom first brought home a crib for you, I used it for my dolls instead. But as soon as you came, I was obsessed with you. You were a mini-me, and that title never really went away. I remember people would always assume that we were twins, which I just couldn’t see. You are two years younger than me — just a baby in my eyes. But since you have now entered high school, I can’t keep that view of you anymore, no matter how bad I wish I could.

Hannah, I remember you, mismatched clothes and all, running around the house in the same sweatshirt for days on end because you loved it so much. I remember your hair being a mess; you’d have me style it on every special occasion. I remember the mess you were when we shared a room and how I constantly had to clean up after you. I remember you always getting out of chores and not having to do anything you didn’t want to do simply because you were little. But now, all these things I remember as being written in stone turned out to be only written in sand and are now washed away with the tide.

Hannah, you’ve grown up. You match your clothes and are concerned about wearing the same thing too much. You are concerned about what your hair looks like and no longer constantly wear it in a ponytail. You ask me about makeup and how to do it and if it looks nice, and it always does. You are now the cleanest person I know and wouldn’t be caught dead with clothes on the ground. You take responsibilities head on and do everything with a smile. Now, you look after our little sister and take care of her the way I did you.

Hannah, after all the growing you’ve done, I want to leave you with this: there was once a time when I encouraged you to dress a certain way and care about what other people thought of you, but I want you to know, I take it all back.

Hannah, I don’t want you to keep up with the newest trends, and I don’t want you to try to fit into a mold that you see as being “the norm.” None of that matters, and it never will. Create your own styles and live that same innocent life you always have. Keep the young, expectant look in your eyes and don’t grow so weary of life just yet.

Hannah, your high school career has just begun, and you have so much more ahead of you. Life is so beautiful, and please don’t lose that admiring picture of it. Don’t let what people say bring you down because what do they know? You are so wise for being only fourteen. Don’t let people look down on you because you’re a freshman, but remember that what you say matters.

Hannah, you’ve taught me to always stay true to myself, and I want to encourage you to do the same, even now- especially now- as you are growing up.

Hannah, please don’t ever fully grow up. Who you are now is perfect, and you don’t ever need to change. But when you do, because I know it’s unavoidable, let it be because you want to be the best person you can be. Never change for something or someone, because things like that are fleeting moments and end just as quick as they come.

So stay true to you, and please, forever stay my little sister.