Here at San Domenico, it’s double the trouble — and double the fun— with an unusually high number of twins filling the classrooms this year.
What makes this circumstance even more remarkable, is that most of the pairs of twins here at San Domenico are fraternal, whether one twin, or both attend the school.
According to Science.org, about four of every 1000 births are fraternal, opposite-gender twins. This makes San Domenico’s abundance of boy-girl twins not only surprising but also special. Why does our school seem to draw in such an extraordinary amount of these twin pairs?
Twins Bryan and Amy Le are both 10th-graders here at San Domenico. They mutually expressed that being a twin involves a lot of competition. Whether it be academically, athletically or just in general, they feel as though they are frequently compared to each other.
“I mean, It’s definitely competitive, since she takes more advanced classes, and I focus more on sports,” Bryan Le said.
On the other hand, many twins here at San Domenico are separated from their sibling. Whether their twin be in an entirely different country, or at a different high school just down the street, both situations share similar pros and cons.
10th-grader, Haythem Salem’s twin sister, Fifi Salem, goes to Tamalpais High School. He would want his sister to attend the same school as him in order to spend more time with her; however, he understands that their time apart can be a learning experience, though they still live together.
“It’s nice to try something new, and be on your own,” Salem said.
Salem mentioned that he and his sister have gone to the same school throughout their whole lives. He feels as though high school can be an opportunity for growth and preparation to be away from his sister more frequently in the future.
Guilherme Guioto (10th-grader at San Domenico) has a twin sister who lives in his home country, Brazil. Guioto is very close to his sister and loves her very much.
“It feels weird being so far away from her all the time,” Guioto said.
Guioto expressed that attending school in California is the first time they’ve truly been apart. Before his departure, they would spend all of their time together, and even shared the same friends. He strongly wishes his sister was here at San Domenico.
Surprisingly, Bryan Le, Amy Le, Salem and Guioto all feel as though being a twin means having a connection deeper than typical siblings — as it is a lifelong friendship.
A twin is “a built-in best friend who they can always count on,” Bryan Le said.
