A Unique Class of Graduates
A high school in the suburbs of New York City is witnessing a rare phenomenon on its final day, with 30 twins among its almost 500 graduating students. This tight-knit group has been together since kindergarten, and some of their parents even met through a local twins club.
Shared Experiences and Bonds
The twins have formed a strong bond over the years, with some even planning family vacations together. Nowadays, they are part of a group text chain that helps them cope with the approaching final day. "To be honest, when we’re together, the room is electric," said Sydney Monka, one of the twins. "We all feel very comfortable and have this shared experience, so we all bounce off each other. It’s really cool."
Fraternal Twins
The students are all fraternal twins, meaning they are not identical. Apart from sharing surnames, the couples may be difficult to recognize if they go on stage at their high school diploma ceremony. Many of the twins are different genders, which makes their bonds no less tight. "Many people think that it’s only siblings, but it’s more than that because we’re doing the same things at the same time," said Bari Cohen, who will be attending Indiana University in the fall.
Theories Behind the High Number of Twins
When asked about the high number of twins in their class, the students had different theories. Some joked that it was "something in the water," while others recognized that there might be more to it than just Mother Nature. Arianna Cammareri mentioned that her parents had tried to have children for years and that in-vitro fertilization was their last option. At that time, it was more common for IVF babies to be twins or triplets.
A Genetic Component
There can also be a genetic component at play. "There are a few twins in our family, as I have cousins who are twins. I think that increased the chances of having twins," added Arianna, who will be attending Stony Brook University in the fall. Large cohorts of twins are not unusual for Plainview-Old Bethpage, with the high school having successive graduate classes with 10 multiples in 2014 and 2015.
Life After Graduation
After graduation, most twins will be attending various universities, with some exceptions. Aiden and Chloe Manzo will both be attending the University of Florida, where they will be living in the same dormitory on campus and studying different majors. "We’ll see a lot," said Chloe ironically. "Deep inside, my mother knew that it would be easier if we went to the same school."
Mixed Feelings About Separation
Some twins are concerned about living far from their long-time partner in crime. Emma and Kayla Leibowitz will be attending Binghamton and Syracuse University, respectively. The twins, who are part of a long line of twins in their family, are already making plans for frequent visits, although they will be about 80 miles apart in New York State. Others, like Sydney and Kayla Jasser, are looking forward to gaining some independence. They will be studying fashion design at different colleges, with Sydney attending Delaware University and Kayla attending Indiana University. "We could have been at the same college, but we just wanted to be able to be independent because we’ve been together forever," said Kayla.
