Seeing double

Seeing+double

Juniors Isabelle and Elizabeth Schucker climb into their car with gloves and hats disguising their already seemingly identical features. Laughing silently to each other, the girls switch up the one thing that differentiates one from the other – their personalities. As Isabelle begins to act as her identical twin-sister Elizabeth, it is hard to tell the two apart, and it takes even their mother a few minutes to catch on to the trick.

The Schucker sisters are just one set of twins that walk the hallways of JC. With a total of 18 sets, there is a mix of identical and fraternal twins, as well as male and female combinations spreading across all grade levels.

Currently, the junior class has the largest amount of twins, with a total of eight sets in the grade level, while the sophomore class has the least with only two sets.
According to the Schuckers, there are many positive aspects of being a twin, including always having someone there for support.

“You automatically have a built-in friend and someone with you there at all points in your life, through difficult and challenging experiences,”

— Isabelle Schucker

“You automatically have a built-in friend and someone with you there at all points in your life, through difficult and challenging experiences,” Isabelle said.

For Elizabeth, this support is especially important in school. “School-wise, it’s nice because although we take different classes, it’s nice having someone there, especially during junior year,” she said.

Although the Schuckers may look identical, like many twins, it is their contrasting personalities that set them apart from one another. “We are like night and day,” Elizabeth said. “We are very different.”

Sophomores Kate and Nick Gromacki are fraternal twins that are also complete opposites. “We are very, very different,” Kate said. “We have different interests.”
Despite having distinct characteristics and differing personalities, the Gromackis find that they are still best friends. To both of them, being a twin is a positive thing because they understand one another on a deeper level than siblings.

“You feel like you get each other more. It’s not like that ‘twin magic’ or whatever, it’s just that you know them really without having to ask anything,” Kate said.

Although they are different people and in most ways different from one another, the Gromacki twins get along for a majority of the time. “Kate is a good twin. She looks out for me, has my back always, and she always tries to help me and make me the best that I can be,” Nick said.

While the Gromackis generally enjoy being twins, it does come with some down sides.

“They just know everything about you, and sometimes you want to keep certain things private, so kind of just being yourself. It’s hard,” Kate said.

The Schuckers agree that sometimes being a twin can be difficult. “We can be each other’s best friend or worst enemy,” Isabelle said.

Additionally, seniors Ariana and Dimitra Conits, who are identical twins, also feel the struggles that come with being twins.

“It’s cool, but it’s kind of hard because we share the same friends in the same grade,” Ariana said. “But we also like it.”

In Dimitra’s opinion, one of the hardest parts of having a sibling in the same grade is sharing some of the same classes. “It’s okay, but it’s annoying sometimes … Teachers mix you up,” she said.

In some classes, the Conits twins even sit next to one another, making it hard for the teacher to tell them apart and call on one of them or hand back assignments.

“I’m so used to it by now … It happens to us every day. Someone will call us the wrong name, but it doesn’t really bother me,” Dimitra said.

Despite their difficulties, the Conits sisters love being twins and agree with the Schuckers that it is nice to always have a friend.

“You always have someone to hang out with, [and] you’re never alone,” Ariana said.

Both Ariana and Dimitra find many perks in being a twin, including that they always have someone to go shopping with.

The pair also often share clothing since they are the same size. “You just do everything with that person,” Dimitra said.

Science teacher Angela Ward has also seen the unique dynamic of twins through her own four children. Ward has a set fraternal twins, a boy and girl, in the ninth grade, as well as a younger set of fraternal twins, both girls, in the sixth grade.

Balancing the schedules of her four children has not been an easy task, but Ward believes that having twins is a gift. She has noticed their different personalities and the unique bond they share.

“It’s a lot of work, but I love it. I can’t imagine not having twins,” Ward said.

Raising two sets of twins has been difficult, especially due to the fact that her children are so close in age, with only a three-year gap.

Despite the hardships, Ward loves to see the interactions and relationships that her children have developed.

“My boy-girl set are close, but they have very different interests. My younger two, they are so compassionate towards each other and love each other and truly are each other’s best friends,” Ward said.

One of Ward’s favorite aspects of having twins is being able to give each one of her children a lifelong friend who will always be by one another’s sides.
“They always have each other, so it’s like an instant party because there are so many kids, and they all get along so well,” she said.

Anna Sullivan is an Entertainment Editor and Taylor Bynion is Copy Chief for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.