On the first day of kindergarten, all of the parents picked a goal for their kids to achieve during the school year. Mine? To learn to be independent without Savannah.

Throughout the school year, the only time I ever got in trouble for “not being an individual” was when I wandered across the hall to Savannah’s classroom. It was innocent. We had free time, so I assumed that meant I could choose where I wanted to color, and Savannah had the good crayons. Unfortunately, I was traumatized when my menacing teacher, Mrs. Christianson, dragged me back to my classroom and lectured me about being too attached to my sister. Honestly, I’d just wanted a blue crayon.

Since then, we have become independent individuals, and I no longer feel the need to venture into her classroom,except the time I needed $2 for a candy bar. In fact, for her freshman year and half of her sophomore year, Savannah attended the medical program at Seminole while I stayed at Hagerty. This gave me a year and a half to become sufficiently independent.

That being said, when she transferred here, I could finally talk to her about the cute boy in my English class and the struggles of algebra. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her. When it came time to apply for college, it made perfect sense for us to go to the same school. One, we wouldn’t have to worry about weird roommates. Two, we’d have a familiar face in a sea of new ones. Three, it will be the last time we’ll be together without jobs relocating us. However, despite our logic, the negative responses I’ve gotten from people have been startling.
“Don’t do that! She’ll be your only friend.”

We’re both prepared to do different things and since our majors are not related, we’ll have opportunities to get to know other people.

“Won’t you get tired of seeing her face?”
If I shared an egg with her, I’m pretty sure I can handle having her as a roommate. We’ve had to share multiple hotel rooms over the years and managed to keep it together, so as long as she stays on her side, I’m good.

Long story short, I learned how to be independent 12 years ago. We’re not going to be attached at the hip or isolated from the singleton population. People can be assured that our personalities will continue to develop. In fact, sharing is out of the question, whether it’s toothpaste or people. We’ve already made a deal that whoever’s the first to talk to the hot guy gets to date him. Which reminds me, I better start practicing pickup lines. She may have had better crayons, but I like to think I have better game.