As my time at Rosary comes to a close, I’ve been having a lot of “last moments” – times where I’ll be relaxing with friends or laughing in class, when I realize that my last AP Lit discussion has already flown by, or that I’ll never be able to experience a Rosary Red and Gold again. But these bittersweet realization moments happen the most, by far, with my little sister, Mikayla Hayward ’26.
I’m the middle sibling of three girls, which means that I’ve both experienced the proud pain of watching an older sister graduate (Madison Hayward ’23), and now get to experience the odd feeling where I’m graduating and leaving a younger sister behind. And so, in the past week especially, I’ve been grappling with these “last moments” with my little sister – last AP Art History class together, last Starbucks run on the way to ASB, last school dance, last cheer competition, last yearbook signature – and it’s really helped me to realize how lucky I’ve been to have a sister to experience high school with.
So, I’m dedicating this final article to my little sister, Mikayla.
Kayla – you have no idea how endlessly proud I am of you and all that you have accomplished.
![](https://RoyalReporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kayla-and-i-red-and-gold-451x600.jpg)
One of the best things about getting to grow up with you and live through high school with you has been watching you become the amazing young woman you are today. These past few years have brought us so much closer and given me so many cherished memories – to see you shoot up in height to where you’re almost as tall as me, or learn to drive (which is TERRIFYING), or even to exchange music and makeup tips with you on lazy weekends. Even at school, getting to see you laugh with friends, dance with you at homecoming, and cry with you after losing Red and Gold – I am so thankful for all the experiences we’ve shared at Rosary and all the moments in between.
![](https://RoyalReporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kayla-and-I-track-Large-450x600.jpeg)
It’s hard, really, knowing that I won’t be able to spend every waking minute, every after school venting car-ride or late night study session, laughing with you. It’s equally as weird to know that to be able to see one another next year we’ll have to rely on Facetimes. But I’m still excited, all the same, to explore that new chapter of our lives together.
![](https://RoyalReporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/kayla-and-i-little-e1716272580748-450x600.jpg)
So keep sending me the random Instagram Reels that make you laugh, and keep updating me about all the minuscule details of your life. And I’ll invite you up to USC, and we can get Insomnia Cookies together and have “Sister Sleepovers,” like when we were really little and would sneak gummies from the downstairs snack drawer and drag sleeping bags into my room.
Thank you for being a wonderful light in my life, for essentially our entire lives but especially these past few years at Rosary. I know you’re going to do so well for your last two years, and that you’ll be the best Big Sister for the incoming underclassmen. Remember to try not to get too stressed out, “to stop and smell the flowers,” as Papa says, and know that you have a giant crowd of loved ones cheering you on wherever your life adventure takes you.
And above it all, remember that I am forever thankful to have you as my little sister.
I love you to the moon and back times infinity plus infinity!
-Kit
<3