The name Mei means beautiful and bright; it is yellow and symbolic of life. But I only knew that after a Google search. The name Mei Mei means little sister, which I have always identified as something I've always known. I live the life of a little sister; I like to be taken care of and make the most of life. Thinking back to my childhood, I think of it as yellow, bright, and even beautiful. My name Little Sister comes in full circle. 

Mei Mei was what my older sister called me when I was little. I hated it when people called me anything other than Mei. I would cry when she called me “Mei Mei."  Maybe that shows that I love my name. I am not quite sure. I was her little sister, at least at the time. Now we both give each other advice, and ironically, I am nine inches taller than her. At the time she would take care of me, she taught me about subjects I would much rather learn from her than from my parents. I would wear her clothes, I would take her toys, and I fulfilled the role of little sister perfectly. 

I think of Mei Mei, and I think of my beautiful childhood. After living in Texas and then Massachusetts, I'd call Connecticut my childhood home. Although I didn't live in a beautiful house, it was still beautiful to me. In our front yard, we had a huge tree that grew flowers in the spring, and the petals would fall as I would play under the tree. My backyard had blackberries that my siblings and I would pick. We had a trampoline that we would all play on, and sometimes my dad would bounce on it, trying to see how high we would fly. I miss the days of feeling like a little sister; those were the days. 

I think of Mei Mei, and I think of the word bright, even light. I feel as if I have always had a bright light in other people's lives. Ever since I was little, I have felt satisfaction in making people smile and laugh. I always say I feel so accomplished when I can make someone laugh after they come to me crying; that just is a confirmation that I am a bright light in people's lives. For example, my friend called me crying about a family issue, and I listened and made her feel seen. Then I started telling her embarrassing things that happened that day, and she started: Laughing. I felt like I helped her so much. 

Going along with light, mei is symbolic of yellow. To me, yellow means happy, which is what I try to be most of the time. Yellow means hope, happiness, and enthusiasm. I consider myself all of those things. I am a very hopeful person. I like to think that things happen for a reason and that everything will fall into place. I am also a pleasant person. I am smiling and cracking jokes most of the time, which I hope, as I grow up, doesn't change. I                                 

Mei means beautiful, bright, and even yellow. Yellow means hope, happiness, and enthusiasm. I have those attributes and hold them dear to me. I try to fulfill all those roles every day of my life. Mary Lou Retton, an American Olympian gymnast, says, “Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” I take that advice to heart. Although I don't feel like a little sister anymore, I will always be Mei.