Have you ever fantasized about having a twin, someone who looked just like you? It would be pretty cool, wouldn’t it? Imagine all the naughty pranks you can pull on your friends and teachers in school. Once, when we were in secondary school, my twin sister and I decided to switch classes just to see if people would notice. And guess what? Our prank worked! Although some of our close friends noticed right away, the teachers couldn’t tell the difference, so everyone just played along. So, I guess that’s one of the perks of having a twin.
As identical twins, my sister and I were once asked if we could feel what the other is feeling, as though we’re telepathic or something. We were even told that another pair of twins from our school had such a connection. I don’t know if they’re telling the truth or not but that is not the case with my sister and me. So to clarify, we’re not telepathic or anything. When someone hurts my sister, I don’t feel the pain because hello! I happen to be a completely different individual. I may empathize with her but no, we don’t feel the same way. So with that out of the way, I would like to share what it’s like being an identical twin.
I’ll start with the perks. Growing up as a twin, my sister and I have always come across admirers, people who get overexcited seeing twins. The fact that two people look alike intrigues a lot of people and we don’t blame them. I too tend to get a little excited at the sight of twins. We got a lot of compliments and attention from people, especially when we were younger. Our mother used to dress us in matching clothes so it was often hard to tell the difference. Fortunately, my kindergarten teacher spotted the minor difference between me and my sister. My sister has a little mole at the top of her left eye but I don’t. So now you know the difference!
Another perk of having a twin is the special bond we have with one another. Having a twin is like growing up with your best friend, someone who you enjoy spending time with, who knows you like no other and always has your back no matter what. I also know that I can always trust my sister with my secrets. We make a good team. It’s pretty similar to the bond between sisters. Only we have the advantage of sharing the same experiences since we’re are of the same age and going through similar milestones in life.
However, being an identical twin also has its disadvantages. One of them is losing our individuality. Since we’re twins, some people tend to just refer to us as “the twins” or “the sisters” as though we are one entity. When they see either one of us missing, they’ll ask “Where’s your other half?” At first, I didn’t mind about it but as I grew older it started to bother me. I realized I didn’t want to be known as just being part of a twin team. I wanted to be recognized as Rosabel, the unique individual that I am. Mind you, my sister and I may look alike but we have very different interests and personalities. My sister used to read books on aliens, which didn’t interest me at all and we also have different tastes when it comes to fashion.
But since I was too used to identifying as a twin, it was a challenge for me to diverge and develop my own identity. In school, my twin and I always took part in the same extra-curricular activities. We were inseparable and we always did things together. In a way, I felt that I have become too attached to my sister and my twin identity that I didn’t know myself. We also had the same group of friends. So it became quite awkward for me when my sister started going out with her group of friends from work. It was only after university that I started coming out of the twin bubble to explore my unique personality and identity. It wasn’t easy but that’s just one of the downsides of being a twin.
People have asked me if I like being a twin. My answer is “Yes, it’s pretty awesome but it does come with its challenges.” Despite the challenges, I couldn’t imagine my life being any other way. I’m learning to embrace both my twin identity and my individuality.
Random Rose is a content writer under Headliner by Newswav, a programme where content creators get to tell their unique stories through articles and at the same time monetize their content within the Newswav app.
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