Sydney Martinez, Campus Carrier opinions editor

As of Feb. 12, I have gone 19 years without siblings. But as a rainbow child, my soul has always felt like a younger sibling — like I wasmeant to have an older brother. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a younger sibling.

Growing up, teachers and classmates constantly asked me, “Are you an only child?” For some odd reason, I misheard “an” as an “L” in front of “only,” so for years, I called myself a “lonely child” instead of an only child. It wasn’t until early middle school that I realized I was an only child, not a lonely one. But that is how I always felt at home — lonely. I went home to a household with two parents and no siblings. There was no one to go home to and share toys with or play pretend. The silence throughout my time at home was loud.

Yes, being an only child has its perks. My mom’s constant support gave me an advanced education. I had my own junk car at 17. I have always been more appreciative of what I receive. But believe it or not, I don’t get everything I want. I am not spoiled, no matter what the stereotype says. If I wanted a toy, I had to write it on a list for Santa, just like most other kids.

I’ve always wanted to experience things siblings take for granted — hand-me-downs, whether passing something along or receiving it. Sharing emotions with a family member who isn’t an adult. Having a built-in best friend.

I grew up learning independence in a way that sometimes felt isolating. There was no sibling to giggle with after a bad day, no one to pick a dumb fight with, no lifelong teammate to navigate childhood alongside me. I had to learn to be self reliant the hard way and find ways to occupy and entertain myself.

I had to advocate for myself, speak up for my needs and figure things out alone — because I didn’t have an older sibling to guide me. Seeking advice from an adult is helpful sometimes, but when it came to navigating friendships, dealing with certain people or just figuring out life’s small but important decisions, I only had myself; I had to mature sooner.

Additionally, I think being an only child can add to the problem of being an introvert— only for some individuals, of course. Because I had plenty of alone time, I missed out on a lot of social interaction opportunities. I have had to make up for my lack of social skills throughout my teenage years.

Don’t get me started on navigating college applications and scholarships. It was hard enough as a first generation student, but I thought it was harder to complete college applications because I did not have a sibling I could bother with all my silly little questions. I had to ask my friends’ older siblings for advice and general help.

I have come to terms that I will never have a sibling, and that’s for the best. I don’t think I would be able to manage a younger sibling at my ripe age of 19. They would annoy me any chance they could.

Nonetheless, know that there is an only child wanting to experience the life you’ve had with a sibling. At the end of the day, I am who I am because I was raised as an only child. And honestly, I can’t complain about the life I’ve lived so far.