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Twins clear up misconceptions, lead separate lives |
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Tuesday, 24 April 2007 |
 Active Image | Derek DeSha | The Appalachian
Freshmen Ben T. Pickell (l) and Casey C. Pickell (r) are fraternal twins. |
by REBECCA GARDNER
Lifestyles Reporter
The Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movies “It Takes Two,” “Double Trouble” and “The Parent Trap,” have been popular over the years in American society.
But for some students, these popular forms of media reflect the images of their own lives; they are twins.
Female identical twins, Alison and Erin Bailey, go to different schools.
“When we decided to go to different schools, my first thought was that
it was going to be awful because we have had 18 years together and then
we will split, but I think it was better for us,” Erin, a sophomore at
Appalachian State University, said.
“People recognized us as different people, not the ‘Bailey twins,’ and
it allowed me to make friends at Carolina that I wouldn’t have met
otherwise, but it also makes me miss her more,” Alison, a sophomore at
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said.
Alison is an exercise science, physical therapy major, and Erin is a public relations major.
“It was kind of tough not having her around and share clothes,” Alison
said. “But it has also been good at the same time because I have made
more friends and she comes here and I go to App, so when we see each
other it is more fun.”
For the male fraternal twins, Ben T. Pickell, accounting major, and
Casey Pickell, law major, going to Appalachian together fell into
place.
“App is just where I wanted to go all through high school, same as [Casey],” Ben said.
The Pickells are both freshmen.
“We didn’t plan on going to the same school, it just happened,” Casey
said. “But it’s not that different now than in high school except that
we don’t hang out and we try to make it like we’re not at the same
school.”
Both pairs of twins said that there were many advantages of being twins.
“There is always that one person around and it is really good on
vacations because, whereas some families have different years between
siblings, I have always had Erin,” Alison said. “And shopping is also
great because we are the same size.”
The Baileys and the Pickells also agreed that it was really nice to always have a friend to talk to and ask advice.
The Pickells swim together on the Appalachian State University club swim team.
“It’s good having him around if I need something and it’s not like I
see him every day, just at swim practice,” Ben said. “Our
competitiveness also works as an advantage because we are both decent
at sports and grades.”
“People think it’s cool to be a twin and I agree,” Erin said. “I don’t
have to say anything and Alison already knows what I’m thinking.”
However, there are some disadvantages as well.
Ben and Casey agreed that they fight a lot, but it could be worse.
However, Alison said that the hardest part for her was the fact that she was so used to frequently spending time with Erin.
The twins said there are many misconceptions associated with twins.
“People see being twins as best friends,” Casey said. “That is not the case for us, maybe for identical twins though.”
Another misconception is that all twins look alike, Ben said.
“The biggest thing I think people don’t understand about being twins is that we are ‘exactly’ alike,” Erin said.
Erin and Alison said they were asked if they can ‘feel each other’s pain,’ when they other twin gets hurt.
“Most times when Erin gets hurt, like when she tore her ACL in high
school, for example, people would come up to me and ask, ‘did your
knees hurt when Erin fell?’ to which I answered, ‘no,’ Alison said.
While they have the same struggles as most people, they always have and love each other.
Alison and Erin call each other five to ten times a day.
“She’s my best friend…literally and I know I can tell her anything and she will tell it to me like it is.
Whether she agrees or disagrees, she will let me know,” Alison said.
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