By Cooper Brock
If one thinks sharing a class period with a sibling is punishment enough, one should try sharing an entire class schedule with an identical twin.
Seniors Dustin and Dylan Fontaine are identical twins, who have the same schedule, and the same grades.
During their junior and sophomore years, Dylan and Dustin would often switch places multiple times throughout the semester. Now that they have the same schedule it impedes their ability to switch places.
“We used to switch places all the time,” Dustin said. “We would tell our friends ahead of time so they wouldn’t give us away.”
Dustin and Dylan would switch on days where they didn’t have tests, for a few class periods at a time.
“What was really funny was when I would tell people that I was Dylan when we actually weren’t switching,” Dustin said. “One time, after I told them I was Dylan, somebody said ‘Wow! I can really tell the difference’.”
Although their signature prank is switching schedules, Dylan and Dustin have ideas about other ways they can switch.
“A crazy prank would be switching at an important life event, like at graduation or at one of our weddings,” Dylan said.
Now that their schedule prevents them from practicing their standard tomfoolery, Dylan and Dustin are able to focus on maintaining their 4.0 grade point averages.
“We are committed to our grades because good grades lead to a successful future,” Dylan said. “Good grades will get us into a good college, which will get us good jobs.”
Dylan and Dustin are both on track to be valedictorians and say that having each other in every class does have its benefits.
“We always have someone to remind us when assignments are due,” Dustin said. “We don’t really study that much, but when we do, we quiz each other on the material and review the notes together.”
As far as extra curricular activities go, Dustin plays for the varsity boys tennis team, while Dylan lifts with the varsity weight lifting team.
“I am into weight lifting because it is a sport that anyone can compete in, it just takes a lot of dedication,” Dylan said.
Dylan says weight lifting has contributed to his larger build, making it easier for people to tell him and Dustin apart.
“I am also much more handsome and a better driver,” Dylan said.
Both say they are close with each other, spending almost all their time together, and doing a lot of the same activities together. They go to the gym and work out together, attend their church’s youth group and hang out with the same people.
Coming into their senior year, both look to pursue a career in engineering after college, with the University of Florida and the Georgia Technical Institute as their top choices respectively.
“Actually we both independently chose UF,” Dylan said. “We have both liked the Gators for our whole lives, and it has one of the best engineering programs in the state.”