I sat anxiously in a hospital waiting room eating the colorful candy, Starburst, with my aunt. The wait seemed to go on for eternity but finally my stepfather walked through the door exclaiming, "he's here!" Becoming a big sister brought joy to my family, helped me cope with change and develop a sense of responsibility. Until March 5, 2009, I was an only child. Many big changes occurred in my life the year before my new brother was born. My mother remarried, we moved to a bigger house on the same street, and there was talk of a new baby in the future. The new wedding was a small celebration held in a picturesque location on a cold fall night, a night when you'd rather be curled up on the couch with warm, fuzzy blankets drinking from a mug of hot cocoa. The move was a breeze, as I can barely see the old house through the tall maples from the new one. I carried everything I could back and forth, quickly running down the street to get more. The excitement of a new home chasing me back and forth. Finally, the speech of a brother. I wasn't sure what to think. The thought of a sister thrilled me, but not so much of a brother. I wanted to share my dolls and dress up, not have to play with mud and trucks. Despite my wishes, I had a feeling it would be a boy. On the day of the ultrasound I made a bet with my stepfather that the baby would be a boy. Afterwards, I was a dollar richer and a brother's future sister. Having to wait a few more months to meet the little guy would have been torture, as the waiting was slowly killing me. I may not have been ready for the changes I made and the ones to come, but I handled them like a champ. The night before my brother came into our lives, we went to gymnastics, a standing date Wednesday n...... middle of paper......get me a bright pink gift bag stuffed with shiny silver tissue paper to open . Inside was a t-shirt that read "I'M A BIG SISTER!" I put on my sister's shirt and saw everything differently. “Today is an important day and you will hold your brother even if you are nervous, you will take responsibility and be the most caring and loving sister you can be,” I said to myself silently. the courage to hold Hayden, and he smiled at me from the cocoon of baby blankets he was wrapped in. From that point on, I tried to be a positive role model for Hayden every day. I have learned to love children's activities again and try to make even the bad days fun. Becoming a sister has made me a better person and taught me many life lessons, such as overcoming challenges and changes, making sacrifices, and learning to care for precious human life.