Throughout Benilde-St. Margaret’s–both in the High School and Junior High–there are many pairs of siblings. This year is unique, due to the fact that there are so many pairs of senior and freshmen siblings. Many believe that being in the same school as your sister or brother is difficult enough, but for these siblings, it can be even more difficult. They have to deal with the superiority and inferiority of being on opposite ends of the high school food chain.

In many families, older children get treated differently by their parents compared to the younger children, while in other families both get treated equally. Often, seniors have more responsibilities while also having some special privileges that their younger siblings don’t receive.  

“I think they treat [Nate and me] fairly similarly, they’re a little more strict with Nate because he’s the youngest, so they make him go to bed early on weeknights and stuff like that. I think they put more responsibility on me as a senior because I am the oldest and that comes with pressure and the privileges I have, like being able to drive,” senior Sam Charles said.

In the Kroll family, tennis has always been a family activity. While only two of the three Kroll siblings play for BSM, “family tennis” is still something they do every once in a while.

“[We] kind of argue about tennis and just random stuff that siblings argue over,” senior Natalie Kroll said, as she spoke of her relationship with one of her younger twin brothers, Mitchell.

One of the most hotly contested arguments among most sibling is the question of favorites. When asked who the favorite was between senior JinLee Gunvalson and his sister, freshman Xela Gunvalson, JinLee had an honest answer. “Probably her. She’s excelled at sports more and is kind of better at school,” JinLee said. “I’m funnier too,” Xela said.