WARREN — An extraordinary coincidence that feels like something out of a movie, seven sets of twins started this school year with their eyes set on walking across the graduation stage in 2026.

The group primarily consists of Warren G. Harding High School, with two students at Trumbull Career & Technical Center.

As these 14 students prepare to walk across the graduation stage in 2026, they’re celebrating diplomas but also a lifelong bond that’s shaped who they are as they’ll be approaching a new journey after they graduate.

From the competitive McQueens, Nadia and Nandel, to equally competitive Blackwell brothers, Day’Vion and X’zayvion, these twins throughout their lives may have shared DNA, but they’re each building out their own lives and dreams, as they head toward a shared milestone.

Growing up as twins often meant sharing everything, from clothes to secrets.

For Janieya and Anaeya White, fraternal twins at Warren G. Harding, being twins felt like having a “best friend” from day one. As kids, their mom dressed them in matching outfits, which they loved until they hit their teens and craved their own styles.

“We decided to wear our own things,” Janieya said.

They played soccer, tennis and track together, but shifted their focus to academics in their senior year. Janieya dreams of studying business at Kent State to become a business analyst, while Anaeya is considering the University of Cincinnati for business or a culinary arts school to pursue her passion for cooking.

Nicoletta and Elaina Buydos, also at Warren G. Harding, were inseparable as kids, playing soccer and softball.

“We did literally everything together,” Nicoletta said.

Their mom separated them in third grade to encourage independence, a move that helped them develop distinct personalities. Nicoletta, the extrovert, loves chatting with everyone, while Elaina, the introvert, sticks to close friends. They’re thrilled to graduate together but nervous about parting ways for college — Nicoletta to Youngstown State University for psychology and Elaina to The Ohio State University for dietetics or radiology.

“I’m scared for the future because we’ve always been together,” Elaina said.

Garrett and Jonathan Wonders, the only identical twins in the group, have always been a tight unit at Warren G. Harding.

“I’ve always been a twin, so I never thought about it any other way,” Garrett said.

Both are on the swim and soccer teams, though one leans more into sports than the other, while the other is the social butterfly. They’re exploring colleges together, drawn by scholarship offers for twins at some schools.

“It’s an added benefit if he’s there,” Jonathan said, excited about starting a new chapter as a team.

Carmella and Michael Carr, a fraternal pair, have a playful energy to their bond. Carmella, at TCTC, and Michael, at Warren G. Harding, laugh about their “unique way of communicating” mostly through bickering.

“He’d try to attack me in the hallways,” Carmella teased, recalling their school days together.

They both plan to attend YSU, but are firm about needing space.

“We can’t coexist,” Michael said with a smirk, blaming Carmella’s “smart mouth.” Despite their banter, they’re proud to share the graduation stage.

Nadia and Nandel McQueen, fraternal twins at Warren G. Harding, grew up competing on the basketball court, inspired by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

“It’s very competitive,” Nadia said, noting Nandel’s edge in sports, though she claims better grades. They rarely shared classes, which helped them carve out individual identities, but they always looked out for each other. “We lift each other up,” Nandel said. They haven’t chosen colleges yet, but are excited to graduate together, a moment they call a “fun experience.”

Day’Vion and X’zayvion Blackwell, split between Warren G. Harding and TCTC, spent their childhood causing “havoc” often in matching outfits they secretly disliked but never told their parents. Both play football, sparking endless debates about who’s better.

“I pancaked him,” X’zayvion said, recalling when they went head to head in a drill.

The verdict is hung between the two on which is better. X’zayvion, the outgoing musician, plays saxophone, piano and drums, while Day’Vion is quieter and more reserved. Teachers often mixed up their names in elementary school, but separate paths in high school helped them find themselves. The brothers say they’re ready to graduate and in life, always ready to defend each other.

Haley and Hannah Brown, also at Warren G. Harding, share a tight bond while embracing their differences. Like the others, they’ve balanced closeness with independence, making their twin journey special.

Whether it’s competing, joking or supporting each other, these twins show that their connection is unbreakable. The pair plan on continuing to stay by each other’s side as they both plan to major in sports psychology in either Cincinnati or closer to home at Kent State.

Hannah, nursing an ACL injury said she and her sister want to help athletes going through similar struggles with injuries — Haley said she also previously tore her ACL.

“It’s cool to go to school together,” Nicoletta Buydos said, capturing the group’s spirit. “It’s like seeing myself sometimes.”