Identical twins describe what it’s like to share Liberty’s campus with a sibling

Some siblings share nearly everything: toys, a bedroom, clothes. But others on Liberty’s campus even share the exact same looks. Identical twins Allie and Megan Bones and Caleb and Jordan Poe share what it’s like to experience college with their sibling.

Both seniors, Allie Bones, a speech communication major, and Megan Bones, a biotechnology major, came to Liberty in 2019. Megan Bones chose to attend Liberty because of the unique biotechnology program, while her sister enrolled because of the variety of majors and how she loved the campus. 

From the beginning, the sisters decided not to room together since they shared not just the same room growing up, but often the same classes, activities and friends. Allie described sharing a room with her sister growing up as having a “sleepover with her best friend.” They both agreed that they wanted to have their own circles while in college. That being said, Allie and Megan Bones consider each other their best friends.

Even though they don’t room together, they still hang out often. Allie and Megan Bones began the tradition of picking a production put on by the Theater Department each semester to go to. Watching plays in the Tower Theatre makes up some of their favorite memories made together on campus.

In many ways, Allie and Megan Bones are similar. They enjoy a lot of the same music and stories. They also said they think alike, so much so that they can start talking mid-sentence and the other one knows exactly what she’s saying. However, some of their biggest differences lie in their interests.

“You can see it in our majors,” Allie Bones said. “As we’ve gotten older, our specific interests have diverted. I’m really interested in the humanities, and Meg is really interested in the sciences.”

Megan Bones wants to use her degree to either run a research lab or become a professor, while Allie Bones would rather work in humanitarian aid.

“I’m more logical and analytical,” Megan Bones said. “(Allie) was always better at art growing up, like painting. … She’s a lot more creative than I am.”

Of course, the sisters’ identical looks has led to some funny encounters. Since Allie Bones is an RA, the girls on her hall often say hi to her sister, thinking it’s her. Similarly, Megan Bones described the time that a friend from her organic chemistry class mistook Allie Bones for her and tried asking her about what grade she got on the test.

While Allie and Megan Bones have never intentionally misled anyone about which twin they are, Caleb and Jordan Poe described how they once switched seats in class in grade school and got away with it. The brothers said that their friends and classmates on campus often confuse them for one another. It’s particularly disconcerting when one of their friends doesn’t know they have a twin, so they have to explain the situation and convince the friend that they’re not pulling a prank on them.

Caleb Poe, a junior aviation major, and his twin brother Jordan Poe, a junior nursing major, decided to attend Liberty University because of the Christian environment. They appreciated the idea of professors opening up every class with prayer.

“There hasn’t been a class I’ve been to where we haven’t prayed in the beginning,” Caleb Poe said. 

The brothers share a lot of the same interests in videogames, sports, hobbies and even favorite restaurants. 

“(We have) similar interests, different sub-interests,” Jordan Poe said. “For (example, in) soccer, he’s more of the field player, and I’m more of a goalie.”

Although they share similar interests, they differ when it comes to their majors and career goals. Caleb Poe seeks to work potentially in air traffic control or possibly with drones. Jordan Poe wants to work in home health care with the goal of “taking the hospital to the patient.”

One of Jordan Poe’s favorite memories on campus with his brother is when he got to use Caleb Poe for a nursing assessment, examining him like he was a patient. He said it made the assignment a lot of fun.

Caleb Poe admires his brother for his study habits. If he could be more like him in one way, it would be to study better and memorize things more easily. On the other hand, Jordan Poe admires his brother’s quick-witted nature, especially when he’s around people he’s comfortable with. 

Overall, having a twin on campus may lead to some awkward encounters, but it can add a twist to an otherwise ordinary college experience.

Bear is the feature editor for the Liberty Champion