Page 14 - The Edge Issue 8

There Were
Twins- double the trouble or twice the fun? Story by Aryauna Jordan and Emma Kelleher
A casual passerby looking down the Edgewood hallways may think they’re seeing with double vision. Edgewood students, however, know that seeing two identical twins walking the halls isn’t rare. In fact, there are more than ten sets of twins at Edgewood. But while these double acts might look the same, each twin is completely unique.
The twin gene is a natural phenomenon that has always fascinated the world. Identical twins are born when one egg splits apart and the two genetically identical halves develop separately. When the babies are born, they look like mirror images of each other. This genetic phenomenon isn’t as rare as you’d think. In 2017, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention coordinated a study and found that 33 out of every 1,000 births were twins.
Emily and Lauren Hurd, 11, are identical twins born seven minutes apart. They are very alike, have several of the same interests, and are genuinely close with each other.They know everything about each other and say it is impossible for them to keep secrets.
Both Emily and Lauren have similar hobbies and admire the arts.
“We have a lot of the same interests and can agree on most things,” Emily said.
They play different sports, Lauren playing volleyball and Emily enjoying cheer and dance, but that doesn’t affect their relationship in any way. And yes- they have tried switching places. Once, for April Fools day, Emily and Lauren both switched classes for a day as a joke and only their close friends noticed.
Emily, the oldest out of the two, loves having her sibling as her best friend.
“Being a twin is really great. You always have a best
friend and someone to talk to. And honestly your twin knows you better than any of your other friends,” said Emily.
The Hurd twins do everything together and are rarely separated from each other.
“It’s fun having a sibling that is the same age as you and has similar interests. A lot of siblings don’t always get along or do much together, so it’s nice that we do,” Lauren said.
Shelby and Alaina Preble, 8, would agree. These identical twins love to spend time together, and share some of the same interests and hobbies.
But although they may look the same, they don’t have the same personalities.
“Some characteristics of our personalities are the same, but overall we have different qualities,” Alaina said.
Shelby and Alaina both feel that, with a twin, there is always someone to talk to and hang out with. There are some downsides, though.
“Being a twin is great, the only thing we don’t like about being a twin is the sharing part,” Shelby said.
In Elementary school, these twins would often switch seats and names for fun, but their friends started to catch on quickly.
Although they play the same sports and look very similar, they both have different personalities just like any other set of twins.
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