The 18 years, 216 months and 6,574 days spent together as twins will be coming to an end this fall. Some will continue as twins conquer college together. For many, a twin is your built-in best friend and no matter how many miles apart they are, they will still be connected.

Shawn and Carolyn Coyle both ’24 will be setting off on separate adventures next fall, with Shawn attending Michigan State University and Carolyn venturing to Loyola University in Chicago. They will be 210 miles apart but still will still remain as close as they have always been.

“It’s definitely going to be different as we’ve gone to school together all our lives,” Carolyn Coyle said. “Even though we’re going to different schools, the schools we’re going to will fit us better individually. I think what will be most different is not knowing the people in Shawn’s life.”

The Coyles’ twin bond will stay strong, filled with many life updates. The start of their college career will definitely have a missing piece, but knowing they are both pursuing different paths that they can succeed in is what is most important. On college breaks, they will reunite with many stories from their different lives at college.

“Next year will definitely feel different,” Shawn Coyle said. “It’s really nice to have someone like Carolyn who knows the same people and teachers, so not having that connection will definitely be different. I will definitely stay in contact with Carolyn, especially during breaks as my mom will be trying to see us and get us together at any given point.”

For some twins, like Hannah and Emily Przybylski both ’24, the separation is not a factor. Hannah and Emily Przybylski will be roommates at Michigan State University. Their bond will remain as strong as ever as they navigate the college environment together, making their dorm feel a little bit more like home.

“We’re going to the same college, so it’ll be nice to have someone to experience all the new things with, and we’re both really excited to go to Michigan State together,” Emily Przybylski said. “Even though we’re going to the same school, I’m sure we’ll both have pretty different schedules, which would be very different to high school where we take most of the same classes.”

The Przybylskis’ friendship will remain ever-lasting as they take on the East Lansing campus. With a different schedule but the same dorm, it gives them some space while also maintaining the nice feeling of coming “home” to your best friend every day. It will feel the same for them, 128 miles away with a new location and journey for them to take on. Their adventures and stories will be shared together.

“Since we are going to the same university, I am very excited to be in an environment with my sister,” Hannah Przybylski said. “I think getting to experience college with my twin sister will be a super fun experience. I really couldn’t picture myself going somewhere without her. It’s nice that we will still get to stay in contact and room together.”

It can be hard on a family having two kids they watched grow up together set off on either a different or the same journey. Knowing they will be conquering these experiences no matter the distance is a reassuring feeling though.

“It will be so much fun to tell each other about our different experiences throughout college and I am super excited to hear all about it,” Shawn Coyle said. “Something will be missing, but I won’t really put the pieces together when really it’s (Carolyn Coyle) as well as my brother, mom and dad.”