An illustration shows Business Manager Merren Hines (right) and her older siblings, Lucy (left) and Charlie (middle), each in different cities. As the youngest sibling, Merren reflected at how being the youngest has impacted her, by all the changes her siblings went through. “For me, change was me learning to live without my siblings after they left for college. I loved change when I finally felt comfortable being the youngest. But, I hated change when my siblings got older,” Merren wrote. Illustration by Sylvia Robinson
Business Manager Merren Hines reflects on how being the youngest child has impacted her life in ways that she couldn’t have imagined.
Change is inevitable. Change is something everyone deals with. Change is what must happen in order for society to function and for people to grow.
I grew up with two siblings, Lucy, who is the oldest, and Charlie, who was the middle child, me the youngest.
My brother and I were closer because we were only two years apart. Although my sister and I were close because we were both girls, the six-year age gap created a sort of divide between us.
Business Manager Merren Hines, Clarke Central High School Class of 2021 alumna Lucy Hines and CCHS Class of 2025 alumnus Charlie Hines (from left to right) sit at Buffalo Creek Berry Farm on June 29, 2011. Merren reflected on how she learned to value being the youngest in her family because her siblings have taught her so many things that she has learned to endear. “I started appreciating being the youngest when I started to grasp the things I cherish about it. I loved the ways I got a lot of attention, seeing my siblings accomplish big things and being able to have role models my whole life,” Merren wrote. Photo courtesy of Meg Hines
As a child, I hated being the youngest. Growing up watching my brother and sister get everything first and me last would make me upset. They were allowed to be with their friends more, got to stay out late and overall be more independent and mature. I had this sense of jealousy, but I was so young that I couldn’t comprehend what being the youngest truly meant.
Recently, my brother left for college at Virginia Tech. His leaving was something that I had never really thought about because it was such a sensitive topic and something I didn’t want to have to face.
Of course, when my sister left for college at UC Santa Barbara, it was sad for me, but with my brother and I being so close in age and doing everything together since we were little, it was different.
For me, change was learning to live without my siblings after they left for college. I loved change when it finally clicked for me to embrace being the youngest. But, I hated the change when my siblings got older. It felt like they were getting to experience more things, while I had to wait for my turn.
I didn’t start to appreciate being the youngest until I got older, but I realized that it was actually more of a blessing than a curse.
I didn’t start to appreciate being the youngest until I got older, but I realized that it was actually more of a blessing than a curse. I knew that they got to do many more things, but I got to just be a kid and learn from them while they had to be teenagers.
I started to value being the youngest when I started to grasp the things I cherish about it. I loved the ways I got a lot of attention, seeing my siblings accomplish big things and being able to have role models like them to look up to my whole life. My feelings towards being the youngest sibling evolved into positive ones.
Despite the sadness of both of my siblings being in college, I have learned to love being the youngest and that I didn’t need to hate it.
