Living in my Twins Shadow by Brandy

Living in my Twins Shadow by Brandy - February 2017 Scholarship Essay

My mom worked really hard to provide opportunities for me and my twin sister to
explore individual interests growing up but I always felt that I was in my twin’s shadow.
We both played basketball and she excelled…we both played soccer and she excelled.
As a child I never felt smart enough. I would get an A and she would get an A+. We
were always being compared and were always known as “the twins”. So it got to be
competitive with me.

My sister and I both joined the band in our 7th grade year…she was on the sax and I
was on the clarinet. Again…she would get 3rd chair in her section and I would get 4th.
My 8th grade year is when things changed for me. The music teacher asked me if I
would be interested in learning the bass clarinet…I talked with my mom and we thought
I should give it a try. I worked so hard with my new instrument and ended up making
my first honor band that year. At the end of the year banquet…I received the award for
the most improved player.

In my 9th grade year I continued with the bass clarinet and made Wind Ensemble (the
highest band). It was that year that things changed for me. I didn’t feel like I was failing
myself….I became Brandy and not “the twins.”

It was the summer between 8th and 9th grade when I decided to focus on the positive
aspect of having a twin sister; a best friend for life. After middle school, we went our
separate ways with different activities. She excelled at basketball; I excelled at band.
We are there for each other sitting in the stands or cheering each other on in the
audience. While I have been worrying all this time about being outshined by my sister, I
had never considered that she might also feel outperformed by me.

What I learned from this - it is rare and special to be a twin. I was given an incredible
gift with a special sister that I should praise and not feel threatened by. I had to find my
way in this world and feel that I did it. I am looking forward to being my sister/my best
friends roommate at college in the fall.