When I Was Too Late to Be the Favorite Child

Ever since I was little, I always knew my older sister got all the attention. She had that perfect smile and that golden-girl glow about her, my parents just couldn't get enough of her... It's not like they didn't love me too, but it felt like every time there was a school play or sports event, it was only ever for her.... As I got older, I tried to be the good middle child. I worked hard in school, joined clubs and teams, hoping that maybe this would finally make me stand out... But no matter what I did, my achievements never seemed to match up with hers in their eyes. And when it came time for college applications, her dream university reached out directly, scholarships galore, full acceptance letters, offers I could only dream of getting.... The thing is though, as much as I tried to compete and beat the odds... My sister left home for college and I felt like a ghost in my parents' house. No one asked how my grades were or what extracurriculars I was joining anymore. It's just me now, trying not to feel forgotten... Is this normal? Should I try talking more with them about it... Or am I being too sensitive and just need to accept that maybe they're simply different people who naturally favor different things in their kids?