They spent 14 years at Arendell Parrott Academy and 18 years side-by-side to wind up following diverging paths to college.
Lucy and Mary Scott Manning, known as “The Twins” or “The Mannings” around campus, have chosen to attend different schools after Friday’s graduation.
The selections weren’t an attempt to purposely detach from one another; they based the decision on the best fit for the individual twin. Lucy will head to UNC this fall as her sister ventures to Davidson College.
“I didn’t not choose Carolina because she was going there,” said Mary Scott, the older of the 18-year-olds. “I liked Davidson because it was smaller. It’s a little farther away, we have family in Charlotte, and we never get to see them. I like being near them.”
She plans on taking a pre-dentistry track, while Lucy will likely study journalism.
“That’s one thing that’s different about us — I’m not into science,” said Lucy, naming art as something to call her own. “I chose Carolina because between my two schools, I ended up liking that one better.”
The twins’ parents attended both UNC and Parrott, with their mom Penny Manning working as a Parrott fifth-grade teacher. Lucy said she grew up going to Carolina football games and recognized the university’s outstanding academic reputation.
“It’s really a special place to me,” she said.
Last year, Lucy took a solo trip to summer camp, giving the Mannings a trial run of the upcoming separation. However, they have not prepared for the full-time parting.
Gracing the graduation stage was not only one of their last shared moments in hometown Kinston, but also a final look at Parrott, where friends became like family for the twins. For the last 14 years, they have watched the school develop new technology and buildings.
Sixty-two Parrott students walked into life’s next chapter Friday night, with 12 graduates as children of Parrott alumni.
Penny Manning has taught at Parrott since 1999 after taking a five-year break following the twins’ birth.
“They’re very good friends,” she said. “I think they’re going to miss each other, but they’ll be excited. It’s hard to be a twin sometimes, so I think they’re looking forward to kind of building their own separate lives.”
Lucy and Mary Scott enjoy running together and have both played on the tennis team six years. They even took the same classes at school.
“You’re always in direct comparison,” Mary Scott said.
Lucy added, “We also get associated together,” she said. “That’s something that’s a little frustrating that we get a lot, but it’s OK because I understand.”
While they plan to call, write and attend events with one another, going to different colleges will alleviate them from the years of twin jokes.
“But it’s worth it,” Mary Scott said. “I mean, I’ll take all of that to have a twin.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan
Arendell Parrott Academy 2013 Graduation
May 31, 7 p.m.
62 graduates
Valedictorian: Logan Beyer
Salutatorian: Mary Scott Manning
School Established: 1964
Headmaster: Peter M. Cowen