MLHS Class of 2017 to graduate five sets of twins
They came to attend Mountain Lake Public School two, by two, by two, by two – by two.
Andrew and Aaron Fast.
Jaden and Shadrick Hoek.
Jordan and Jared Suderman.
Meredith and Jacob Suess.
Alex and Brook Sunderman.
Five sets of twins who grew together to the same beat of their mother’s heart, born minutes apart – friends forever.
And on Friday, May 26, will graduate together from Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) with the Class of 2017.
Five sets of twins that make up approximately one-fourth of the class of 39 students.
The days are ticking down to that moment of commencement; a moment that will eventually send each duo in different directions out to explore the world.
Twins account for over 90% of multiple births. By the definitions, there are two types of twins – identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic). To form identical twins, one fertilized egg (ovum) splits and develops two babies with exactly the same genetic information. This differs from fraternal twins, where two eggs (ova) are fertilized by two sperm and produce two genetically-unique children, who are no more alike than individual siblings born at different times.
Of the five sets of senior twins, four are fraternal – with only one duo identical.
Meet this quintet of doubles:
+ Andrew and Aaron Fast
One is more serious (Aaron), the other is goofy (Andrew).
They have a super strong sibling rivalry.
But, Aaron knows his older brother (by three minutes) Andrew has his back, and Andrew knows Aaron is someone he can always rely on to be there. Neither had an epiphany when they first realized the were twins, but did realize, looking at each other and saying in unison, “He was just always there.”
Andrew and Aaron are the fraternal twin sons of Tom and Marilyn Fast, and the have another brother (aside from their other half), 21-year-old Josh and two sisters, Karina, 23 and Anika, 13.
Next fall each will heading off to college, but exactly where they will be going is still up in the air. Aaron is interested in mechanical engineering, hoping to eventually focus on aerospace. No matter where go, they are preparing to be separated by distance for the first time. For Andrew, “That means that I will not be able to mess with him anymore – and I can reuse all of my old jokes,” while Aaron shares, “It means I won”t have Andrew to talk to right ‘there;’ in person.”
Advice to younger sets of twins? From Andrew, “I would say, talk to each other and trust your twin to stand beside you in a tough situation – or talk some sense into you in an argument.” Aaron’s thoughts include, “You may not always get along, but you are twins together. Everyone else may come-and-go, but your twin will be there when you need them – no matter what.”
And, when having a conversation with both at the same time, look for gestures silently understood by the other.
+ Jaden and Shadrick Hoek
Having a built-in playmate.
That is what both Jaden Hoek and Shadrick Hoek remember about how being a twin was special from their long-ago-lives as little kids. Now, on an adult level, the sister and brother reflect, “I am never without a friend.”
However, just like with siblings of any age, the sister and brother acknowledge there were indeed “those times;” incidents of one getting the other in trouble – on purpose.
Jaden (who is eight minutes older than her brother) and Shadrick, are the fraternal twins of Trent and Pam Hoek. They have a 12-year-old sister, Meesha.
In the fall, Jaden will be attending Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato working toward a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, while Shadrick will head north to Ridgewater College in Willmar to study Farm Operation and Management.
It will be then, as Jaden reflects, that, “My BFF (Best Friend Forever) will be more than a hallway away.”
While each knew the day would eventually come, and things will indeed be different, the Hoek twins encourage twins (or any siblings), to “Enjoy the time you have together!”
+ Jordan and Jared Suderman
The lone set of identical MLHS Class of 2017 twins are Jordan and Jared Suderman, sons of Kerry and Deanna Suderman. The pair has an older brother, 20-year-old Austin, along with a younger brother, Chad, 13.
Being the only identicals, the brothers “may” have developed a secret code or language, “But, if we do – it’s a secret.”
The duo could almost be described as “carbon copies,” aside from Jared’s eyeglasses. They have similar personalities (quiet) and share the same interests. Separate individual aspects, as pointed out by Jordan, would be that, “I am slightly more athletic, and Jared is slightly more studious.”
Throughout high school, the Suderman boys mostly mirrored class schedules, providing each other with an at-the-ready study and homework partner. That sort of “back-up” is what Jordan and Jared have appreciated being twins; having someone to relate to over anyone else, and someone to rely on no matter the situation.
Next fall, Jordan will be attending Minnesota West, while Jared will work, and then head off to an institution of higher learning.
And, even if they are not in the same place and don’t see each other every day, they assert they will remain close because, “He’s with me!”
Even though recognized by peers as the quiet ones, Jordan and Jared admit to some trickery back in Mrs. (Marilyn) Tusa’s third-grade class; the twosome would (on occasion) switch desks, and get away with it.
+ Meredith and Jacob Suess
“She’s more feisty than me,” declares Jacob Suess about his older (by 11 minutes) twin sister, Meredith Suess, “but doesn’t get in trouble like I do.”
Meredith, meanwhile, counts off what the fraternal twins, the daughter and son of Dan and Charlotte Suess, have in common. That list includes Cobra wrestling, trap shooting, love of the outdoors, musical tastes (although Jacob says Meredith is more musical than he), etc. Explains Meredith, “I’ve always been around my brother, and I loved it because we could do the same things.”
In addition from having someone right there always to play with as children, the Suess twins now appreciate that they have someone with whom to compare answers for assignments or work together with in class. For Jacob, the lone negative aspect is having to share the same car with his sister.
South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota is where Meredith will be heading in the fall, to work on a Hospitality Management major. Forty-five minutes north up I-29 in Watertown, South Dakota, Jacob will be atttending Lake Area Technical Institute, focusing on Heavy Equipment Operator studies.
That short distance isn’t lost on Meredith, who is happy they will still be pretty close to one another, yet, “It will also let us see how we do without each other.” And Jacob knows that despite the fact they won’t see each other all the time, they will be able to stay closely-connected in many other ways, “Social media, you know.”
Their advice to younger sets of twins is similar, but the wording is slightly different by gender. Advises Meredith, “Enjoy your time together and just have fun!,” while Jacob says in all honesty, “They may be a pain in the butt at times, but they are there when you need something.”
+ Alex and Brook Sunderman
By their own admission, fraternal twins Alex Sunderman and Brook Sunderman are pretty opposite, but yet, since they are twins, are the same in some ways – especially in realizing they have someone heading through life with them who was born at the same time.
Alex, who is 11 minutes older than Brook, are the twin son and daughter of Angie Dick and Jon Sunderman. They have an older brother, 21-year-old Levi Blahnik.
While having someone right there with you as life happens is a positive aspect of having a twin sibling, the Sunderman twins have had to answer many, many questions about what it is like being a twin, and struggle with being grouped together as the same or compared to one another.
Brook will attend Bethel University in St. Paul in the fall, and Alex is undecided.
Over the course of their years together, the relationship betwen Alex and Brook could not be described as “inseparable,”” but both do agree that there will be times in the future when they will miss their other “half.”
And, just as opposite as they have grown up to be, Alex and Brook encourage younger sets of twins to not make comparisons between each other, and to, “Just be you!”
Two-by-two – but one of a kind
All 10 of these soon-to-be high school graduates have described being a twin as being born with a best friend. These five sets of twins were born together, but each pair has learned to allow room for space in their togetherness.
They were introduced to this world two-by-two. They are one of the same – but different. Each of them one of a kind.
