I am four years old and crying my eyes out. I’m at a summer camp with my brother, where I’ve just scraped my knees open playing outside. Each and every camp counselor takes his or her turn trying to get me to stop crying: silly faces, funny jokes, magic tricks... And then my brother, my knight in shining armor, comes out of nowhere. His six-year-old-self simply hands me a teddy bear, gives me a hug, and much to the amazement of my camp counselors, I immediately stop crying.
I am seven years old and (once again), my knees are bleeding profusely. I’ve just finished racing my brother on rollerblades in my neighborhood, one of our favorite past times. After flying over a big crack in the sidewalk and landing on my elbows and knees, skinning them open, I’m not enjoying it so much anymore. He helps me home and is my nurse for the day. I still have the grotesque scars, but I don't mind them because they remind me of my brother.
I am ten years old. My brother and I are riding our bikes through our neighborhood when we encounter the neighborhood bullies. They are two boys older than us who have always liked my brother but bullied me. One of them kicks my bike tire and I almost fall over. My brother tells them to leave me alone, and they do. He rides his bike one pace behind me all the way home to let me feel safer.
I am fifteen years old. My grandma, who does not speak a hint of english and has rather unusual habits, is living with us for a while. I can't help but get impatient with her when out in public sometimes. My brother, on the other hand, holds her hand to guide her places, opens doors for her and explains things to her in her native Korean.
I am nineteen years old. I hear stories from my brother about the organization he's working with over the summer, helping children in underprivileged communities. All the little kids love him and say he's their favorite teacher.
I could keep going on with these stories, but of course, there is a word limit for this essay. Basically, my brother is my best friend, idol and the most important person in my life. Blessed with being only two years (but one grade) apart, we've always been incredibly close. It's hard being on the opposite side of the country from him at our respective schools (he goes to Boston College), but somehow, the distance hasn't dampened our bond. I do what I do every day to make him proud of me and the person I am becoming. In other words, I try to be the best person I can be by using his personality as a template; I strive to be selfless, honest, genuine, down-to-earth and loyal, like him. It's saved me many times; whenever I question whether what I'm doing is "good" or "bad", I ask myself what my brother would think and act based on that. I wouldn't trade my childhood for anything because by watching him and growing up with him, I've become the person I am today.
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