I’m the last born of 5 girls, and I lost my oldest sister back around 2018. My sister’s name was Brenda. She was dear to me, as I looked up to her and considered her a pillar of knowledge. Brenda was the smartest woman I knew personally and the highest achiever in our family. All of my scholastic achievements have been inspired by the paved way she made before me. While in school, I plan on carrying my sister’s legacy by carrying myself with integrity, continuing in high scholastic achievements, and by providing a listening ear to anyone in need of sharing. My sister was in a lot of pain, both mentally and physically, by the time she died of kidney failure, so I would like to honor her by being the friend I was unable to be for her on earth, for someone else. Not too long before my oldest sister passed, my other sister was shot in the head causing her to be permanently blind, so therapy was really the only way I could cope with so much grief and change. I also coped with her death by burying myself in school. Since my familial life was very hectic at that time, school seemed to be a good and even healthy distraction. If I could sum up what I learned from my sister’s passing it would be: always check on your loved ones, aim for higher than your current circumstances, and when in the face of adversity- persevere.