Opinion By J1 Reporter Grace Tynan

Having siblings live far away can be hard. I have a sister who attends the University of Mississippi which is eleven and a half hours away from home. It has been tough—especially since we spent sixteen years living together every single day. That kind of closeness builds a strong friendship we have with each other. 

I’m someone who doesn’t like being alone at home, so this year—being an only child while my sister is away—has taught me a lot. I’ve learned how important it is to make time for FaceTime calls or even short visits when possible. We stay connected daily, whether it’s texting about what to wear or just calling to check in on each other.

I’ve found that visiting her once a month is ideal, but it isn’t always easy. We have to work around her busy college schedule and my own limited time. Still, even short dinners or late-night calls make a big difference. Sometimes I’ll call when she’s busy, so we use the Find My iPhone app to see where each other are before reaching out—just to avoid bad timing.

Finding time for each other can be a challenge, but because our bond is so strong, we make it work. What’s also hard is being the one still at home during big moments, like Prom or other “firsts” I wish she could be part of. Even though she can’t always be there physically, she teaches me a lot—especially how to be okay on my own.

Luckily, some of her friends who still live nearby have become like sisters to me. I rely on them for advice, outfit choices, or even borrowing clothes—since I can’t raid my sister’s closet like I used to. I definitely miss that. But all the distance makes our time together that much more special. I love visiting her, meeting her college friends, and making new memories.

In fact, through my sister, I met a girl named Caroline. Her older sister is one of my sister’s best friends, and Caroline and I have a lot in common—especially since we both became only children around the same time. Even though we don’t live in the same state, I hope we get to spend more time together in the future.

So, back to the beginning: having a sister far away has definitely been an adjustment, but it’s also made our relationship stronger. We’ve learned to cherish the time we do get, and we don’t take it for granted. Our bond is like no other, and as the saying goes—distance truly does make the heart grow fonder.

Maggie and I on her bid day at her sorority ΦΜ (Phi Mu) at the University of Mississippi on the second time we left each other.

Used AI to help edit.