FEATURE

Tanner twins traverse nursing from dual credit to BSN   

Emily and Erin Tanner are the quintessential identical twins. Their striking resemblance in appearance, especially in voice, had the author of this article running in circles, deciphering both handwritten and recorded notes. 

For instance, as they talked about their experience at Weatherford Christian School and the small class sizes: 

“When you think about college and opportunities like that…,” Erin said. 

“…You have to push yourself because our school didn’t rank,” Emily continued. “So, if you wanted more opportunities, you needed to score better and get better grades. It was a different world moving from a class of 20 students in your little uniforms up to the college, but it’s still like…,” 

“…Even though [WC] was bigger, the campus and the amount of people, it didn’t feel like we got lost,” Erin finished. 

Their uncanny resemblance in appearance and voice aside, these sisters are forging their paths while leaning on each other for support. Their shared passion for helping others and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry led them to Weatherford College’s Alesia Armstrong Wiggs School of Nursing, where they are thriving as the youngest members of their cohort. 

They’ve held each other accountable for completing their schoolwork since they started kindergarten in Springtown, and their competitive rivalry propelled them to success. Emily earned the title of valedictorian, and Erin followed closely as salutatorian of Weatherford Christian School’s class of 2021, with a difference of only a .02 grade point average. 

Thanks to dual credit classes they took in high school, they completed their first associate degrees from Weatherford College the following year. This May, they graduated with a second set of degrees, their Associate Degrees in Nursing, and are wrapping up classes this summer to complete their Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing. 

Their decision to attend WC was more about practicality and self-awareness than following the crowd. Emily acknowledges that a large university might have been overwhelming for the pair. 

“The original plan was to get our associates or get our basics done and then go off to Tarleton or somewhere still in the area,” she said. “But then they started offering a four-year nursing program here, and we were like, ‘Okay, we’ll stay here!’” 

“Why would we go somewhere else,” Erin asked. “We already like Weatherford College. We’re already on campus here.” 

The twins’ decision to pursue nursing at WC was a natural fit. Affordability and the convenience of staying close to home were top priorities for them. Erin initially sparked the idea of nursing, and Emily, who had long dreamt of a career helping others, agreed to give it a try. The college’s reputable nursing program and supportive environment sealed the deal. 

“And [WC] offered good scholarships,” Erin said. “The bigger universities will give you $40,000, but that doesn’t go that far when you look at their tuition, whereas Weatherford will give you actual money towards your tuition, which makes a difference.” 

And even though the campus is larger than their experience in Springtown and WCS, the nursing cohort they joined was a small, cohesive group that created a similar educational experience. 

“Being in a cohort, you learn together and fail together,” Erin said. “Everybody goes through the struggles together. They were very encouraging, like, ‘Hey, are you struggling? Let me help you,’ or ‘Hey, I know we all did badly on this test, but let’s all get together and figure out what we can do better.’” 

Being identical twins pursuing the same degree did present some unique challenges. Early in the program, instructors attempted to separate them to proactively prevent cheating, a common misconception about twins. However, Emily and Erin have proven their individuality through their distinct learning styles and strengths, complementing each other while maintaining their identities. 

One significant shift has been spending more time apart, although they believe they’ve never gone 24 hours without seeing each other. 

“I did night clinics, and she did day clinics,” Emily said. “So she would be at clinical from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and then as she was getting off of clinical, I was going to clinical, and it was like ...” 

“…When can I see my twin,” Erin said. “So, this year it’s just been...” 

“…Learning life without the other one,” Emily said. 

Their experiences at Weatherford College, particularly the diverse clinical rotations, have exposed them to various specialties, fueling their interest in areas like neonatal intensive care and labor and delivery. 

As Emily and Erin each approach completing their third degree from WC, they envision a future where they continue to learn and grow personally and professionally. While they hope to work in the same field, they understand the realities of individual career paths. Regardless of where their journeys take them, they remain steadfast in their commitment to positively impact their patients and community. 

As first-generation college students, Emily and Erin are passionate about inspiring others to pursue higher education. They actively encourage friends and family to consider dual credit courses and summer classes, sharing their success stories to motivate others. 

“We always encourage people to take dual credit and summer classes,” Erin said. “We did it, and it really helped because now we’re 21 and done.” 

“In our nursing program, we’ve been taking the BSN concurrently [with the Associate Degree Nursing classes],” Emily said. “So we’ve had friends in our class ask about the workload. We’ve been able to help those nursing students,” 

“…And they’ve been able to help us,” Erin said.