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"My sister mocked me for being adopted, so I made our parents wish they'd picked me twice. Growing up, my sister broke never let me forget I was adopted. While our parents showered us both with love, she'd whisper things like, "They only got you because the agency had a two-for-one sale, or, at least I know where I came from. I tried not to let it bother me, but every comment chipped away at my confidence. I was eight when my parents chose me. They already had Brooke who was six at the time, but they wanted another child. After seeing me at the agency, they said it felt like I was meant to be part of our family, but Brooke never accepted me. She'd hide my homework, blame me for things she broke, and tell other kids at school I was secondhand goods. Despite her constant bullying, I worked hard in school. While Brooke partied and barely maintained a sea average, I was taking advanced classes and studying late into the night. Our parents noticed the difference, but didn't want to compare us. They'd praise both of us equally, even when Brooke clearly didn't deserve it. Everything changed during our senior year. Brooke was failing three classes and risk not graduating. Instead of studying, she spent her time making TikToks about how adopted kids were damaged goods, and posting Instagram stories mocking my generic brand DNA. One day, I overheard her on the phone with her friend. My parents only adopted her because they felt sorry for her. But watch, when college applications come around, they'll realize blood is thicker than water. All their money is going to their real daughter's education. That was the last straw. I had already been accepted to Princeton with a partial scholarship, but I hadn't told anyone yet. I decided to let Brooke dig her own grave. Every time she skipped class to hang out with her boyfriend, I kept quiet. When she forged our mom's signature on her failed math test, I looked the other way. I watched as she dug herself deeper and deeper. The day college decisions were released. Our parents gathered us in the living room. Brooke went first, confidently opening her emails. Her face fell as rejection after rejection appeared. She hadn't gotten into a single college, not even her safety schools wanted her. Then it was my turn. I opened my Princeton acceptance letter, then revealed my scholarship. But that wasn't all. I'd also been accepted to Yale, Stanford, and MIT. Our parents were ecstatic. Brooke sat there mouth open, as I explained how I'd done it all while working part time to save for college. That's when Brooke lost it. She screamed that it wasn't fair that they should have been helping their real daughter instead of letting some random adopted kid show her up. Our parents went completely silent. Mom's face turned white. Dad's hands started shaking. Random adopted kid. Dad's voice was barely a whisper. Is that how you've been treating your sister? Brooke tried to backtrack, but it was too late. Mom found her social media accounts and saw all the cruel videos she'd posted about me. Dad discovered she'd been stealing money from his wallet to buy followers and likes. It all came crashing down. The next day our parents called a family meeting. They'd made a decision. They were going to cash out Brooke's college fund to pay for my full tuition at Princeton. We've clearly failed as parents. Mom said, "By letting you become this person Brooke, you'll need to earn your own way through community college." Brooke threw the biggest tantrum I'd ever seen. She accused them of choosing me over their real daughter. That's when Dad said something I'll never forget. Biology doesn't make a family. Love, respect, and hard work do. Your sister has shown us all three. You've shown us none. Two years later, I'm thriving at Princeton while Brooke works at a local diner, still living at home. She has to pay rent to our parents and attend therapy twice a week. Meanwhile, they've started the adoption process again, saying they want another child who'll make them as proud as I have.