By: Iris Kolenich

We spend our whole lives with our siblings, and they get to know us better than anyone else does. We tend to go out on our own and leave our siblings behind when we head off to a university. However, it is not uncommon for two or even three siblings to enroll at the same university at the same time, which may bring its own set of obstacles and rewards. This may be a result of strong bonds between the siblings that enable them to follow one another to their next educational journey or the feeling of familiarity.

One person weighed the pros and cons of being at college before their sibling came to campus what it would be like and what made them nervous. One pro was getting a car to use from their parents and having someone familiar around to ask questions and get heads up on professors, even bond together. However, there is always the concern for a sibling having to take responsibility. One example is partying and knowing you’ll always be the first call when something embarrassing happens, and they need help.

Family is a forever bond, but often people view college as a way to branch out and become their own person. What does this mean if siblings go together though?

The O’Shields sisters, Abigail, a senior, and Savannah, a sophomore are both in Zeta Tau Alpha and play softball (a pitcher and catcher combination). When asked about the best and worst parts, the sisters mentioned that having relatives and family so close when the rest are so far away – seven hours – is comforting.

However, by participating in the same activities, friends are the same, and having time and space to themselves is often the toughest part since they are constantly together. A lot of people on campus have inferred that you don’t see one without the other. When it comes to getting along better while younger or now at college, they agreed that their present-day is better than when they were kids, maybe due to their newfound acceptance of one another or maturity.

“When I decided to accept my ZTA bid, I wanted to surprise her and keep it a secret so I told her I didn’t accept it,” Savannah said when asked of a fond memory. “However, she was in the room when I called and accepted the bid but didn’t want to ruin the surprise I had planned.

“So for a whole week, we both were lying to each other to try and act like neither of us knew what was going on.”

Abigail said they’ve had many great experiences but she loved playing in the championship regional game
together and she’ll remember it forever.

—-

With only a year between them, Derek and Owen Hess are brothers participating in theatre and choir together. Owen mentioned seeing his older brother regularly is the nicest part about going to the same college. Derek agreed and said that they both need help, they have each other when the need arises.

Downfalls are always being asked where each other are and expected to know what’s going on. Owen explained that sometimes there is the constant underlying thought of being viewed as Derek’s younger brother. He feels though, their relationship is at its peak since they have grown to appreciate one another more as time has progressed.

Both brothers enjoy poking fun at each other for one another’s actions. Derek mentioned his younger brother never reads emails and is always texting to ask what’s up. This has become a funny recurring thing, while Owen recalled car trips and traveling woes like curbing the vehicle on a trip to Yellowstone.

With Derek graduating soon, the days of coming home after school and seeing each other will fall farther into the past and allow them to discover their own persons and reunite for family gatherings.

—-

As a legacy, I have had a great opportunity to know many alums from West Virginia Wesleyan College. One being a friend of my mom’s, Adrien. She and her younger sister, Emily, were two years apart in college and were excited to share their experiences with us.

At the age of 39, Emily graduated and became an alumni in 2005. Both she and Adrien, now 41, were involved with Zeta Tau Alpha and the women’s intramural basketball team. The best parts of being in Buckhannon together were “having a piece of home with you” and being able to share experiences together.

Emily mentioned sharing the car was the only negative and Adrien would go to college with her sister again in a heartbeat! Both sisters agreed when it comes to getting along, their relationship developed and was stronger during and after college than while growing up.

Meanwhile, nobody says competition is a bad thing, because Emily’s favorite memory is when “her sorority flag football team beat the crap out of my freshman team, I could barely walk the next day.”

Many current nursing students can attest to how hard the program is and seventeen years ago, it was more than likely the same. Emily was a nursing student and when she and her friends would study, Adrien shared she would help, as it was fun getting to know everyone and meet new people.

“I went to spring sing practice in the chapel slightly intoxicated and I thought it would be funny to hide from Emily because she
had never seen me drink before,” Adrien said, recalling her 21st birthday. “I don’t think I hid very well from what I am told.”

These are the experiences that all of us are here for and although some bring their sibling to college with them they can still be had with friends, sorority brothers, and sisters.