Unique ang senior high school graduation sa Herricks High School na nasa New Hyde Park, Long Island, New York, ngayong 2024 dahil ang dalawang top performing graduates ay kambal—sina Devon at Dylan Lee, 17.
Si Devon ang tinanghal na valedictorian na may 4.218 Grade Point Average (GPA), habang si Dylan ay nakakuha ng 4.224 GPA.
Ang difference ng kanilang GPAs ay .006 lang.
Ang kambal ay pareho ring athlete and musician.
Pinangunahan ni Devon ang boys’ volleyball team ng kanilang school sa back-to-back conference championships.
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Kabilang din siya sa top 50 volleyball players sa Long Island, kung saan nagsasagaw siya ng volleyball sports clinic para sa mga kabataan tuwing summer.
Nakatanggap din siya ng award mula sa National Association for Music Education All-State and All-Eastern Orchestra dahil sa kanyang pagiging cellist.
Nakapag-perform na siya sa pamosong Carnegie Hall, at naging second placer sa ginanap na New York Laureate International Music Competition.
Ang salutatorian na si Dylan ay miyembro rin ng championship volleyball team ng kanilang school.
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Lumahok din siya isang 10K at dalawang 5K marathons, kung saan siya ang naging first placer.
“I hated running at first,” ani Dylan. “Dad would get us up at 7:00 a.m. to train.”
May talent din siya sa music.
Tumutugtog si Dylan ng double bass, at lumahok pa sa national jazz competitions last year.
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Sa panayam ni Dylan sa news website na NBC na nalathala noong January 20, 2024, kasama sa main goals nila ni Devon ang magkaroon ng balanse sa kanilang academic life.
Aniya, “While academics was a priority, there are also many other aspects to our lives, including extracurriculars and making sure to spend time with friends.”
Kuwento pa niya sa artikulong nalathala sa The New York Post last January 19, “Our parents value education, and always told us to try our best.
“Not the grade, just try our best.”
At dahil magkaklase at laging magkasama maging sa extra-curricular activities, hindi maiiwasan ang kumpetisyon sa kambal.
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Pero ayon kay Devon, meron silang healthy competition.
“It’s more of a friendly dynamic, where we can help each other and there is still a level of competitiveness.”
Nagtuturo rin ang kambal ng Chinese yoyo sa Asian American Cultural club.
At tulad ng ibang teeners, mahilig din sa video games sina Devon at Dylan.
Samantala, hindi lang ang kambal ang matalino sa kanilang pamilya.
Ang kanilang ate na si Jeylin ang valedictorian noong 2023, at nag-aaral ngayon ng astrophysics sa California Institute of Technology.
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Magiging magkaiba naman ang landas ng kambal sa kolehiyo.
Si Devon ay sa Cornell University mag-aaral, habang si Dylan ay sa Yale University. Hindi na binanggit ang mga kukunin nilang kurso.
Kuwento ni Devon, sobrang mami-miss niya ang kakambal.
“It's honestly hard to imagine because we've had almost every experience of our lives together, and there aren't very many experiences that are really my own or unique to myself, because I've always shared them with him.
“It makes me a little nervous. But I'm excited to be on my own."