Response to Yena’s “The One and Only”
When I was younger, I always wanted to be an only child. Every time I go anywhere, I would automatically be labeled with my sister. I never felt like I had my time to be independent because I basically spent my entire life with a sibling which in a way made me reliant on her.
It is true that I thought the majority of an only child was just spoiled and selfish. From the start of my age, I shared everything that I owned in my lifetime. My clothes were my sisters and my books were hers too. My sister would wear out the outfit I was planning to wear the next day and this would be so frustrating, but I couldn’t really change what has already happened. I would envy having the ability to be relieved that no one will take my belongings and everything would be where it is when I wake up the morning after.
It may sound like having a sibling is a horrible experience, but it honestly is one of the best things that probably happened in my life. I feel a slight relief when I am not on the best terms with my parents because I know that my sister would probably on my side. When my sister purchases a new clothing item, I know that I also got a new addition to my closet. Having a best friend that I know will always be on my side compared to anyone else is such a blessing and I can never ask for anything better.
Getting into and adapting to college was a difficult experience because it was odd to be apart from my sister. Even after a bad day, having someone that will listen to me no matter what was such a norm in my life. One of the main reasons why I became such a people person was because I was always with someone without a choice. This indeed made me more reliant on my friends or people in general because having no one beside me was something I have never experienced.
Thanks to the global pandemic and the short bit of the college experience that I had, I started to enjoy having alone time. I became less reliant on others and became more self-assured. I was able to spend time without having an individual by my side to feel “needed” in the universe. I am still a people person and enjoy being surrounded by others, but I am now fine to be spending time alone without feeling lonely or excluded.
