Dear Editor,

    Being a younger sibling leads me to believe that I am expected to live up to the standards that my older sibling has set out. As a younger sibling, I feel as if I have to be even, or surpass my older sister’s accomplishments.

    My sister graduated from The Ohio State University with a 4.0 GPA and is currently attending Otterbein University for grad school. She played four years of soccer  while attending  OSU and received a hefty  scholarship for both academics  and athletics. Because I play the same sport as my sister, I feel as if I have to live up to those standards and receive an equal or greater scholarship to play soccer in college. My sister was extremely successful in her athletics as she began starting for the OSU soccer team her sophomore year. I feel pressured as a younger sibling to live up to these standards, and it adds stress to my search for a college.

    I am often compared with my sister, even though we are very different people with different skills and strengths. Since  I play the same sport as my older sister, soccer, many people ask who is better or more athletic. This is a difficult question to answer, because my sister and I play with very different styles and mentalities that are hard to compare. My sister and I are very different people that are incomparable, but it is still a fear to fall short of her achievements. I believe many other younger siblings feel similarly about this topic, and it is unfair. Each person should feel independent and free to take whichever path in life that they feel may suit them best.

Sincerely,

Riley Gruenbaum