Riya, Week #4 - Four Years Apart

“You look just like your sister!” is a phrase I have heard so many times; I don’t think it would even be possible to count. I hear this comment from just about anyone, whether it’s my family, friends, or even strangers. And while my sister and I do not see the resemblance, it seems that nearly everyone else is able to, apparently including our phones, as we can unlock each other’s phones through Face ID!

Growing up as my sister’s younger sibling is interesting because it feels like we are basically the same person, but at the same time, like we couldn’t be any more different from each other. 


Beyond just having similar features, my sister and I possess many more similarities, such as having incredibly similar music taste, a similar sense of humor, and practically the same set of values. We were even born on the same day and time, despite her being four years older! It can often feel weird to have so many things in common with someone else. However, these similarities are definitely a big part of the reason why we are so close, as they allow us to better understand one another.


At the same time, these similarities do not make us exactly alike. There are plenty of differences between us too. My sister has curly hair while mine is straight, and my sister is tall while I am shorter. Beyond the obvious, we share many other differences. My sister loves chocolate while I much prefer vanilla; my sister will eat just about anything while I am a picky eater; and my sister is averse to animals while I adore them. Even though we share many similarities, we both still have our own preferences and personalities.


I think that is what makes my bond with my sister so special. While we are incredibly similar in some ways, we are totally different in others, like our personalities and interests.


Image Credit: Original

So, when people tell me, “You look just like your sister!” I view it as a trait that connects both of us. At the end of the day, I am lucky to have someone who understands me through our similarities and differences!


Comments

  1. Sophie LeinerOctober 8, 2026 at 5:01 PM

    I also have a sister! We’re a bit closer in age than you and your sister though, about two and a half years apart rather than four. Also, I’m the older one and she’s the younger one. Personally, I don’t think we could look more different, but I’ve also heard some people say we look pretty alike. Probably not alike enough to open up each other's Face IDs though! I have to admit, when I saw the picture at first, I thought that your sister was you.

    In terms of our interests and tastes, I think me and my little sister are pretty different. We don’t have a lot of common ground, but we both try to understand each other I think! It still does make me pretty mad when I want to get sushi for dinner and all she wants is Italian food.

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  2. Arya JohnsonOctober 8, 2026 at 8:59 PM

    Having the same birthday as your sister (but not twin) is so cool! I guess in a unique way you are, and that’s a rare bond to have. I feel like having an older sibling can lead to following their footsteps and in a way, seeing your future through them–but this isn’t the full story. It’s nice how you can experience both feeling as though you’re one person and still having room to be your own individual. The bond between siblings is something irreplaceable, and I wonder how people would be and think if that bond didn’t exist and how that would change their development.

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  3. Pavan Sai SunkesulaOctober 8, 2026 at 9:55 PM

    During freshman year, my brother was in his senior year and worked in the library. Somehow, people would see him, and immediately connect him back to me. I couldn’t wrap my head around why they thought we looked similar. We had different heights, different hair, and our outfits were completely different. My brother wore two shirts everyday, with one being unbuttoned, and I always wore a hoodie on top of a t-shirt. While people continued to say that we just looked alike, I had a theory. They ended up having a conversation with him and that was what led them to the conclusion of him being my brother. My brother and I disagree on a lot of things. Most stuff really. But when we’re talking to people about things that don’t really matter, and by that I mean no grades or future expectations, I’ve noticed that we sound incredibly similar. I guess that I’ve picked up on that way of speaking after listening to him lecture me for most of my life. I really hated it when I felt like he was talking down to me or giving me advice that I thought was unhelpful, but I realize now just how important those conversations were. They brought us closer together, even if they pushed us apart in the moment, and now the way I speak is a sign of our bond. Even though your sister and you are unique individuals with many differences, it’s clear that the similarities you do have brought you closer together and are a result of your strong relationship. You’ve reminded me of how much my own brother knows about me and how close we can be.

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  4. Maxwell WangOctober 8, 2026 at 10:21 PM

    Wow!! I remember reading another blog that was similar to this. It talked about someone with a similar sibling and having similar tastes, I think. Anyway, being born on the same date & time four years apart is AMAZING. That is such a coincidence. Or good planning. Either way, that's a really cool fact that'd be handy to share at getting-to-know-you events and things. Also unlocking Face ID. That worries me! Maybe a passcode is stronger than biometrics.

    I personally refrain from seeing two siblings, or related people, or people in the same predicament and remarking, "Oh wow, you two are the same / will be the same / were the same!" I am conscious that some people don't like being viewed as the same as someone who only just resembles their looks. People have unique personalities that they like to see other people notice, and I do my best to validate those. You have a cool experience!

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