Siblings under the same roof, with the same teachers and sometimes the same classmates can lead to many different outcomes within the dynamic. Some students thrive off of having a built-in best friend roaming the same halls, while others find that having their sibling in the same classrooms as competition that overshadows their own intelligence. Oftentimes, students find that the impression of an older sibling leaves a lasting effect on their teachers.
“My sister had a teacher that I had a year after I took her class. She would be comparing us to each other because my sister is more quiet than I am, so the teacher would say stuff about that,” said senior Meaghan Rouse.
Most cons to having a sibling in the same school as you is the comparison or the impressions from other teachers, which are often based on how the sibling acted in the class beforehand. However, that could also be a pro. If your sibling had a good impression on a teacher, that teacher is more inclined to like you.
“Having siblings at school was weird growing up because we were always in the same classes,” said senior Ava Mitchell, who is a triplet. “It is nice though because if we ever have the same subject or class, we can help each other with assignments.”
Having a sibling also means having a built in friend at school that you can confide in. School is no doubt a stressful environment, and having someone that you can talk to unfiltered and without judgement is a luxury.
“It’s funny to hear people tell me that they walked past my clone in the hallway because apparently we all look the same,” said Rouse.
Being a sibling always comes with challenges, but knowing you always have someone that you can talk to makes a stressful day just a little easier. In short, having a sibling at school is not at all bad. While past impressions of an older sibling can affect how someone treats you, the pros greatly outweigh the cons.
“I think there are good and bad sides to having a sibling in the same school as you, but it is not at all as dramatic as it is made out to be,” said senior Crystal Fwamini.
