Twins Adrian and Ainsley Dondo, both 22, from Bradford, experienced university together, sharing not only the same course and grade but also the same graduation day from Keele University. The twins, who were born a minute apart, lived next door to each other during their studies, a proximity that Ainsley said made the university experience "a lot easier."
"It's kind of like going with a best friend but he's my brother and we can spend even more time together," Ainsley remarked. Despite their close bond, a healthy level of academic competition existed between them. "We always end up thinking we have to one-up each other," Ainsley explained. They would make small bets, such as Adrian buying Ainsley McDonald's if Ainsley achieved a higher grade.
Adrian, the elder twin, found this competition a useful academic motivator. "At the end of the day, we do wish each other the best. Obviously, we always aim to go high in our grades but it's just a bit of a light-hearted thing to push us more," he said. He admitted to having exams and assignments where his performance was lower than Ainsley's, which he felt pushed him to improve.
Their shared graduation ceremony simplified arrangements for their parents, who watched them process one after the other. Adrian described the experience as "surreal" and felt proud seeing himself and his brother together throughout the day. "Walking down that aisle hearing my name was great, and knowing my brother was right behind felt great," he said.
Following their graduation, the brothers are continuing their path together by undertaking internships in Milton Keynes. "The only time we'll be separated is in an actual job now," Ainsley stated, indicating their next steps will likely involve their first professional roles apart.