Being 10 years older than my sister you would think I’m the one giving all the advice.
Wrong.
My sister is enjoying the last semester of her sophomore year in college. She’s in the honors program studying business—and come graduation will have no college-related debt as everything is paid (down to her books). Though her current status is truly praiseworthy, there were many days of darkness and uncertainty.
Two years ago my husband and I made our way from Jersey to Maryland to watch my sister graduate. I was a little over eight weeks pregnant at the time and was looking forward to catching up after the ceremony.
“So did you decide where you’re going to college in the fall?” I asked.
“No,” she responded holding her head in shame.
While my sister does have younger sibling tendencies to wait until the last minute, I was shocked and disappointed our mother and her father couldn’t get along to help their child figure out her future. She applied to the college of her choice along with two backup schools. Her father wanted her to go to one school and basically would not contribute a dime to the other choices. Our mother is not in the same financial position and could not afford the payments on her own or secure the necessary loan. Because of this, my sister was told community college was her only option for the fall. But I knew where there is God, there is a way.
With a month before the start of the fall semester, I stumbled across a Maryland college holding same-day admission in Connecticut. Paying for her own way, my sister took the train up to my house where I drove 90 minutes (each way) so she could reach her meeting on time. She was accepted that day and the rest is history.
I’m so proud at what my sister has accomplished in her two years at college. She has worked hard to secure more scholarships and recently scored a summer internship with a Fortune 500 company that pays $20 an hour, offers free housing and provides two weeks (paid) vacation. Every time I speak with her, she’s on her way to an important dinner, flying to a nearby state for a business-related project, or meeting with someone working at the White House.
And I thought I was doing well as a happily-married, work-from-home mom and entrepreneur.
There are no words to describe how proud I am of my sister and her aspirations. Without really knowing it, she challenges me to step up my game and take more risks. Who knows where she’ll be after college.
The sky is certainly not the limit for her.
