Hero

I have a hero. His name is Kevin. 

Unlike the rest of my immediate family, he has a common name that people don’t stop and ask him how to spell. My brother’s younger life was so much harder than mine, being the experiment child which is more commonly referred to as the first. Kevin was mature at a young age and smarter than he should have been . My mother met my father when my brother was 6. Kevin did not like my dad because he was dating our mother. Eventually he got used to him and when my brother was eight I was born. 

Kevin loved me, but he did what big brothers do; he bothered me and made fun of me. Although Kevin bullied me, he was always there for me. When I could not sleep at night, I would go to his room; when I was scared of the non-existing monsters under my bed and in my closet, he was there. As we got older our relationship faded, apparently it was not ok to bring your cool 15 year old friends around your snotty nosed little sister. 

My relationship with my brother was not very good again until he left and went to college. I think that we both realized how much we needed and appreciated each other after we were not able to see each other as often. My brother was afraid to be himself when he was younger; but, by the time I could appreciate who he was and really understand what it meant to be yourself, he had come out of his shell and was able to be himself around everyone. 

My brother helped me mold myself into being my own person. Not following, but setting trends. Being myself. If Kevin had not been there for me I think I would still be searching for the type of person that I wanted to be. Of course I still don’t know who I am yet and make mistakes, but I can always tell my brother when I do and get his opinion on how to fix them. My brother checks in with me very often now and asks me about the most important things in life. He asks me and encourages me about school. Kevin helps me figure out boys and who the good ones are and which ones I should stay away from. He also helps me accept and appreciate other people as well as other family members. Kevin taught me so much in life, and I am positive that he helped shape me into the person I am. I know he will help me become the person I want to become.

~ Espe G.