Imagine this: You’re the younger sister in a family where your elder siblings seem to have it all figured out. From acing exams to mastering the art of charm, they’re like the shining star in the family’s universe. Meanwhile, you’re trying to understand how to be an adult without burning the house down. Sound familiar? Well, that’s the rollercoaster that we, younger sisters, constantly ride, given no other option. And now, the Elder Sister Syndrome has taken over the internet, with Instagram reels and TikTok videos becoming a rage.
I’m the youngest sister in my family with two elder sisters, and while they are the most supportive, encouraging, and understanding people that I could possibly have, being the youngest ain’t a cakewalk. Our life is like the understudy in a theatre play, always living in the shadow of the lead aka the elder sister. But hey, being the younger sister isn’t all about hand-me-downs and being the nautanki of the house either. It’s literally a whirlwind adventure filled with its own quirks that make us the unique characters we are.
Let’s get real
First, let’s make one thing clear: Elder Sister Syndrome is a real thing. It’s like having a personal benchmark of achievements set impossibly high. From academics to adulthood to career, my elder sister has mastered it all (even if she wouldn’t agree, it’s the truth), leaving me in her dust. But did I wallow in self-pity? Maybe a little, but then it occurred to me that being the younger sister comes with its perks — like learning from her mistakes (let’s face it, she made plenty) and using her victories to visualise my own path and actualise the same.
Younger sister core is like having imposter syndrome, loving our personal time way too much, constantly having this desperate need to move to another country, and just start a new life altogether with no one from the past around. Sure, we love our siblings (well, most of the time), but there comes a point when we crave privacy like a plant craves sunlight. It’s not that we don’t enjoy the chaos and perpetual banter — it’s just that sometimes, we need to recharge ourselves in our little corner of the universe, away from prying eyes and our nosy families.
And let’s not forget about our knack for perfectionism. Oh yes, we younger sisters are innately perfectionists. Blame it on our incessant need to prove ourselves or constant desire to stand out in a crowd. Whatever the reason, we strive for perfection in everything we do – from acing that math test to perfecting our eyeliner, we want it all. But here’s the catch – perfectionism leads us down a vicious cycle of self-doubt and low self-esteem. We tell ourselves that we’re born with imperfections, that we’ll never measure up to our elder sibling’s shining example. But guess what? Imperfections are what make us human, and it’s high time we embrace them.
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The brighter side
Despite the trials and tribulations of being the younger sister, one thing is constant among us all – we’ve got resilience! Sure, we stumble and fall, but we bounce back ‘stronger than a ’90s trend’. And this isn’t about dissing our other siblings’ struggles – just giving credit and recognition where it’s due. We’ve got expectations coming at us from all angles. We wanna be top-notch not just for ourselves but for our crew too. But let’s be honest, sometimes we feel like we’re invisible, even when we’re in the spotlight, and we crave that validation like it’s our daily bread.
So here’s to all the younger sisters out there – the dreamers, doers, ones who won’t let anyone steal their thunder, ‘the mirrorballs’, tied to ‘invisible strings’. Embrace your quirks, relish your time, and please, just remember that imperfections are not our kryptonites. And who knows? Someday, we might just steal the show and own our story like bosses. Cheers to us!
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(Edited by Humra Laeeq)