“Wow, Mubeen is your brother? He is such a wonderful kid.” My new teacher went on and on about how ____1____ Mubeen was. I am proud of my brother, but I was tired of people expecting me to be as perfect as he is. I was angry, for all the ____2____ got to me. I wanted to be known as Shameera, not as Mubeen’s sister, or worse a female copy of him.
This year, Mubeen was ____3____ to Cornell University. Actually, that was a big pride for our school. I said to my brother, “Everyone is ____4____ me. But that really makes me ____5____ because even when you leave, your ____6____ will live on. I’m afraid you’re going to haunt（使苦恼）me.” Mubeen laughed and said, “Don’t ____7____. I won’t haunt you. And I’m ____8____ that you’re going to be the second to go to an Ivy League university.”
Recently, I spoke to my history teacher about how I didn’t like being compared with my brother. She said, “To be honest, I think you’re smarter than him. You ____9____ activities more and you’re more understanding.” Whenever I remember these words, they make me happy.
This school year is my first year of school without my brother. I finally have the chance to establish my own ____10____. I feel less stressed and I am more appreciated as myself now.