14 DAY TRIAL // One may have the impression that they see double while walking down the halls of John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview, Long Island, as various pairs of twins are attending this educational institution. But this year's senior class is the most special of all times, because ten sets of multiples – twins and triplets – are all graduating from high school at the same time.
For the time being, the sets of multiples are still roaming the hallways of the school, confusing colleagues and letting them struggle to figure out which was which. On June 29, they will all graduate high school in a ceremony that will probably disconcert many, but will be double the fun.
According to CBS Local, the chances of a person being a twin is 3 percent, so to have 21 twins or triplets in a year of 369 is almost double the odds. And school officials said there was actually an eleventh set of twins, but they recently moved away.
John F. Kennedy High School principal James Murray said this year was a special one for the school. “It is very unique for us. It really is,” he said. “This is a special year. It’s not like this the preceding year or the following year.”
Almost all of the sets of twins and triplets have grown up together in the district, giving teachers and students troubles with so many doubles. Identical twins are sometimes hard to tell apart even for the parents, so I can only imagine the hassle for their colleagues, especially because the pairs are always walking around together.
“They constantly would be like, ‘You don’t know who I am’,” said business teacher Jennifer Santorello.
One pair of twin sisters, Deniz and Ariel Harned, say it's weird to walk around and see so many twins, but they confess that they have always done things together and shared almost everything.
“I think it's special,” Deniz said.
“Growing up with your own best friend. I think I can count the number of days we’ve spent apart on one hand,” her sister Ariel added.
After graduation, only one pair of twins will go to college together, but the rest will part ways, as they have chosen different paths.
Statistics show that among general populations, the chances of having twins in the 21st century are about 3 in 100. Apparently, chances of having multiples are better than ever, as researchers have recorded an increase of nearly 60% since the early 1980s. It is thought the rise is due in part to fertility advances.