Twin sets reflect on high school journey
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Among the 106 graduates who crossed the stage at École secondaire Neelin High School recently, 10 stood out in a very special way — five sets of twins made up the graduating Class of 2025.
For two of those sibling pairs, the journey through high school was not only a shared experience of academic milestones and extracurricular triumphs, but also one of personal growth, friendly rivalry and plans for diverging futures.
For Kruz Wilson and her brother Kal-El, high school was a journey marked by teamwork.
“It’s been very fun going through high school together,” Kruz said. “It was easy to get homework done if we were in the same classes, and the connection we both had to the teachers was great. It was nice to experience things together, but also knowing we didn’t have to do every single thing side-by-side.”
Kal-El echoed that sentiment, calling it a “unique experience” to have someone by his side who understood him “inside and out.”
While support was a major theme of their relationship, competition also played its part.
“There were times when the competitive side took over,” Kruz admitted, “but we both knew not to take it too seriously,” Kal-El added. “There’s always a little natural competition about who can get that one per cent better, but it was never serious. Most of the time, we were each other’s biggest supporters.”
But now, for the first time in their lives, the Wilson twins are parting ways. Kal-El is heading to the University of Winnipeg to pursue a degree in kinesiology and continue playing volleyball. At the same time, Kruz will remain in Brandon to study Applied Disaster and Emergency Studies at Brandon University, to become a firefighter.
Twins Julianna and Annika Laluk also described their high school journey as one filled with closeness and a deepening bond.
“Going through high school as twins has been amazing for us,” Annika said. “Sharing so many classes and teachers has made us so much closer — not only as sisters but as best friends.”
Competition, the girls said, started with grades but eventually gave way to mutual support as they began to develop separate academic interests.
“Our competition became support,” Juliana explained. “It allowed us to push each other to become the best students possible.”
The Laluk sisters also made it clear that their most cherished memories at Neelin were made together.
“We both find that our best memories were never made without each other,” Annika said. “We made so many unforgettable memories together that we will hold onto for years.”
Unlike the Wilsons, the Laluks aren’t ready to go their separate ways just yet.
Both will be attending Brandon University in the fall — Julianna to become a teacher, and Annika to pursue nursing.
“We’re excited to see where Brandon University and our futures take us,” Julianna added.
» aodutola@brandonsun.com
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