In October of their freshman year, twins Connor and Ryan Powers and Connor and Ryan Green initially met due to a set of odd coincidences. The two sets of twins shared the same first names, birth month and future commencement ceremony.
Now seniors, both sets of twins are reflecting upon their unique college experience.
Not only do the Green twins share identical DNA, but they also share their major, friend group and some extracurriculars too. The pair of computer engineering students did not plan on attending college together. Connor was “dead set” on Northwestern with only two weeks until decision day.
“I’m not exactly sure what changed my mind,” Connor Green said. “I just sat and thought about it and ended up here.”
Although they are identical twins, Ryan and Connor Green said they have never switched places in class at Notre Dame, despite doing it a couple of times as children.
The Greens said they estimate now that it takes two to three weeks to be able to tell them apart. They think they look similar — like brothers would — but no longer view themselves as identical.
“I never really believed we could switch places,” Connor Green said.
As for Connor and Ryan Powers, campus life does not include as many mix-ups — they are fraternal twins. So, although they have the same majors and career aspirations, the two are not identical in appearance.
The pair has never spent more than a week apart, Connor and Ryan Powers said.
“We’re closer than pretty much any two people could be,” Connor Powers said.
While they did not plan on attending the same college, the Powers said the right choice for both of them just happened to be Notre Dame.
“Connor has always been the one that likes to match more, clothes or things we do, but as far as I’m concerned we each made our own decision,” Ryan Powers said.
Both Ryan and Connor Powers participated in the Appalachia Seminar, worked at Camp Sweeney and studied abroad together in London. The two science business majors also both hope to attend medical school after a gap year working with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
“I always make my class schedule and then Connor texts me ‘okay, what are we taking this semester,’” Ryan Powers said.
Although the Powers twins have the same goals for the future, Ryan and Connor said they think it’s unlikely that they will end up with the same Jesuit Volunteer Corps placement or at the same medical school.
The Greens, however, are both headed to Chicago and plan on living together. They do not foresee a move apart happening for five to ten years down the line — a move that might be hard considering Connor Green’s philosophy of “you don’t leave the other one, you can’t.”
The Greens said they have many memories that prove they both live by such a philosophy.
“Freshman year I was super sick at the end of September ... I was sitting in bed, watching TV just feeling terrible and I get a knock on my door,” Ryan Green said. “It was Connor [with an Einstein’s bagel] and he was like ‘Hey, I just wanted to drop this off. Hope you’re doing well.’ For me that was huge, having someone to support you in that way so early in school.”
