What It's Like 2

This is the second installation of the What It's Like metaphors. The event that I am choosing to focus on for this post is, not a recent event, but rather something that has always existed for my whole life. I am referring to being the first-born. There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to being the first-born. In one aspect, being the oldest is the best, because you usually have the upper hand among your siblings. Also, you get respect and are not treated like a baby. On the other hand however, usually your parents are more restrictive, and you are expected to succeed in order to 'pave a path' for your younger siblings. The best metaphor that I can think of, again, comes from Lord of the Rings. In the second part of the trilogy, the last march of the Ents takes place against Isengard. I am an ent (preferably Treebeard), and my younger sibling is Pippin, who is on my shoulder. Usually, in school, I am expected to pave a path, to clear the jungle, to set good expectations. I am expected to do the serious work of attacking Isengard, while my younger sister sits on my shoulder. While I am knocking off orcs left and right, Pippin merely lobs some stones and hopes to nail one. My point is, it is generally easier for my younger sibling because of the path I paved in school. However, the benefits of being the elder is that everyone (generally) respects you for the work you put in. No one is going to make fun of Treebeard--he is a boss.