Photo by Rich Doherty

Twins mean twice the fun

For some people, having a sister is like having a root canal. But having a sister that is the splitting image of you, the same hairstyle, the same height and weight as yours and the same kind of car as you, right down to the color, must be sheer torture.

Not true for identical twins Alison and Lora Kermode.

Long time residents of Long Beach, the Kermode sisters have shared everything since they can remember.

"We've never been separated for a long period of time," Lora said. "There's a bond between the two of us that people find hard to understand."

The Kermode twins who are marketing majors, will both be graduating with honors this month from the College of Business Administration.

Alison explained that their first choice was to attend the University of California, but at the very last minute their decision was changed.

"Our father had cancer and we did not want to leave him," Alison said. "Plus we heard of all the horror stories of not being able to get any classes, and it would have been more trouble getting classes together."

But the twins unanimously agreed that they don't have any regrets about choosing CSULB.

"It has been a great experience," Lora said. "Our father and mother are both alumnis of this school and our older sister goes here too."

"The professors in the business department were very supportive," Alison said. "When our father passed away, and we had to take some time off, they were really understanding about it."

The twins, who have taken every class together since elementary school said there is an advantage to having your sister in the same class."

"It is twice the notes and twice the study partners," Alison said. "It's probably the reason why we've done so well."

Both Alison and Lora have been on the President's Honor List for all six years of their college career.

With a combined grade point average of 4.0, the sisters have won several scholarships, including the Isabel Patterson Scholarship won by Alison in 1992 and 1993.

The sisters are also members of the American Marketing Association and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Not only do the twins share the same genes, but they also work for the same company.

"We both work for Bank of America, but at different branches," Alison said.

"It is good for us because when we're at work, it's like a totally different world," Lora added. "It helps us to work on being more independent."

Is there ever any competition between the two of them?

"We have never been competitive with each other," Alison said. Finishing her sister's sentence, Lora added, "We're kind of a team."