A Labor of Love for My Sister
My sister and I are almost seven years apart in age. When I went to college she was only ten. It wasn’t until she was going to college herself that I realized that I had completely missed her growing up. I was not there for so many life events that a girl would need her big sister for… her first kiss, her first prom, her first heartbreak, her first bad hair day… Now here she was again embarking on another tier of her journey to womanhood. This time, I was not going to miss it! The original version of "Your Big Sister's Guide to Surviving College" (March 2007) was created out of love for my little sister. This amateur, spiral-bound book contained advice on every aspect of college life based on the experiences and mistakes made by me and my friends. This was my way of being there for her and being the best big sister I could be from a distance. The recent headlines of young girls wandering from clubs and parties and not making it to their next birthdays lead me to believe that there are so many others who need a "big sister" . I resurrected and revised my sisters book to bring it to all young ladies who need a shoulder to cry on, an ear to vent to, and someone to help them navigate the journey through life.
My name is Christie Crowder. I live in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia with my wonderful and supportive husband, sweet two-year old daughter, and believe it or not… one on the way (due to arrive shortly after the arrival of my baby book)! I am currently 650 miles away from my sister but we are only nanoseconds from each others hearts. Writing this book… or rather re-writing it has brought me closer to my sister and closer to my authentic self. It has also set free a person in me that has always been there but I for reasons like paying bills, self-doubt, and lack of time always ignored… a writer. I am going to enjoy getting to know her.
