Meikina Stuy

My name is Meikina Stuy, I am eighteen years old and I live in Lehi, Utah with my two younger sisters and parents.

Growing up I have always been the big sister to my younger sisters, and as siblings usually do, we sometimes argue and fight. Other times we have some of the best times of our lives.

I can remember both of the times when my parents were telling me that I was getting a sister.  When adopting Meigon, I was five years old and didn’t really know what was going on. I knew I was getting a new sister, and I couldn’t be sure if I was excited or nervous or maybe even both. I remember sitting in a room with my Dad waiting for her to come out, and when they walked out with her in their arms and her crying, something inside of me melted.  I was overwhelmed that I was getting a new sister and I just wanted to comfort her. She was sitting on my Dad's lap and I looked at her and grabbed her hand and she looked at me and I knew right then that we had a connection.

From that day on, she and I have always been partners in crime until that one night at the dinner table when my Dad asked, “How do you feel about getting another sister?”  By this time I was 7-1/2 years old, and Meigon was 4. We were both very excited: Meigon because she was going to be an older sister now and me because I wanted another sister.

Meilan’s story was a little different. The first day I met Meilan, she wasn’t crying at all. She had this pouty face that never seemed to vanish.  She and I have had our difficult moments, but in the end she and I always seem to work it out.

Being a big sister has its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.  I love being a sister, and even though it’s tough sometimes being the example, in the end it all pays off.