Study buddies: Twins pursue nursing degrees side by side at Binghamton University’s Decker College

Alyssa and Alexi Glaser didn’t know if they’d end up going to college together. When they both fell in love with Binghamton University, though, they took the leap and committed.

Whether it’s pursuing a career in nursing or training for a marathon, these twins are an inseparable team.

As sophomores at Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Alyssa and Alexi are majoring in nursing and minoring in forensic health. They grew up in Clifton Park, N.Y., as the oldest of six children. Taking care of others throughout their lives has been a rewarding feeling, and it’s inspired them to work toward becoming neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses in the future.

“Being a twin in this program is such an amazing experience,” Alyssa said. “Going through it together and working toward our dream careers together is something I will never take for granted. It brings me so much pride to watch Lexi work toward her dreams, and I think it is so special that I get to achieve mine right alongside her.”

While a nursing degree can be tough, having a built-in study buddy makes it a collaborative and positive challenge.

“I wish everyone could experience being able to have a twin going alongside you in college, because I think it’s a really fun experience,” Alexi said. “Going side by side, doing coursework, completing the classes, and getting closer to the nursing school — I think it’s exciting that we get to do it all together.”

In addition to taking the same classes and holding executive board positions in the Nursing Student Association, Alyssa and Alexi also live together in Mountainview College’s Nursing Learning Community. This connects them to professional nursing-related opportunities, and it allows them to live alongside students with similar career goals and form relationships with classmates.

“We build off of each other’s experiences, support each other, and have created relationships that will last beyond college,” Alyssa said. “Living in the NLC also brought me someone whom I continuously look up to, Lindsey Sheeley. During my first year, Lindsey was our community assistant, as well as a senior in the nursing program. Lindsey helped me build a strong foundation, which I can continue to build on throughout college.”

In addition to the student network the Nursing Learning Community fosters, there are also events that provide relief when students feel overwhelmed.

“There are constantly academic advisors holding drop-in hours and destress events,” Alexi said. “One of my favorite events was the coffee bar they had recently. It was not only a 30-second walk from my dorm, but also a good way to relieve stress.”

The sisters also train as athletes. While gymnastics has been a big part of their lives, they took up running when gyms weren’t accessible during COVID-19. They started by signing up for half-marathons and have worked their way up to running a full 26.2 miles by keeping a strict 4 a.m. training schedule and holding each other accountable.

Having a support system has been an important part of their success. However, the work that culminated in running a marathon was also a result of showing up for themselves every day.

“Training for marathons with Lexi and accomplishing them together reinforced the idea that accomplishing goals is not always easy, but through support and perseverance, anything is achievable,” Alyssa said. “We always showed up, and we always supported each other. Goals are not accomplished without action. You can rely on people for support — but in the end, you are in charge of your success.”

The twins are primarily self-trained, but decided to take Marathon Training, a class for dedicated runners offered by Decker’s Division of Health and Wellness Studies. They had no trouble racing ahead of the curve, but benefited from learning running techniques.

“We ran the marathon during the third week of classes,” Alexi said. “But after we learned more in class, we realized every single thing we did wrong. We thought about what we could have done to train more effectively in the past. Now we know new strategies for next time.”

While they are proud of what they’ve accomplished together, they also credit their parents’ unwavering love and support for helping them grow into the people they are today.

“None of this would have been possible without them,” Alyssa said. “They have encouraged and supported us in everything we have done. They have always believed in us and shown up despite working full-time jobs and having other kids at home. Every new challenge has been easier because they always believed in us.”

As identical twins, they are often mistaken for one another — even by family members. However, it doesn’t bother them at all. In fact, if they hear one of their names being called, chances are they will both turn around.

Alyssa and Alexi may not have known they would continue their higher education together, but their journey has enabled them to collaborate and achieve their goals, working toward a future they are passionate about. Their experience at Binghamton has given them the chance to grow closer to each other while also becoming accomplished individuals in their field.

“Attending Binghamton together is a choice I will never regret,” Alyssa said. “There are so many resources and opportunities available to help us succeed, and all of the professors have helped us grow not only as students but as people. I am excited to continue through the nursing program, and I am so grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way.”