By Joy Vann
Nishtha and Nirmani Brahmbhatt, twin valedictorians from Hampton High School’s International Baccalaureate (IB) advanced college preparatory program, pursued their K-12 academic careers side by side. Now, as freshmen at Old Dominion University, they are carving out their own separate paths.
While both are committed to studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, they are embarking on different tracks. Nirmani is studying computer science and Nishtha, older by one minute, is studying mechanical engineering.
Several weeks into the school year, they are excited to join clubs and see what’s out there socially. Thus far, the biggest challenges they’ve faced are the daily commute through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, coordinating their divergent schedules and finding a good parking space.
“College is different, but at the same time, what we took in the IB program in high school really prepared us for what was coming,” Nishtha said.
For Nirmani, who has three online classes, managing her schedule around Nishtha’s in-person classes requires a bit of sacrifice. While her sister is in mechanical engineering classes, she studies in the Perry Library or the Batten Arts and Letters Building.
Nishtha, whose career sights are set on aerospace engineering or software development, is taking core classes with her fellow mechanical engineering majors and enjoying the opportunity to engage with her classmates.
“Since I have classes with engineering students, I've been able to talk to them, and get their opinions on different things. I think that's been really beneficial, and I've been able to make connections through that,” she said.
Nirmani, who is considering minoring in data science or business analytics, is already looking forward to next semester and moving further into her studies.
“I'm really interested in computer science, like learning code. And now, since I'm actually starting to learn that, I know that I can develop something cool in the future,” she said. “One thing I would say is that next semester I want to take more classes in person so I can communicate with more people and collaborate.”
Unlike high school where they had the same classes, in college they do not. They both take calculus but have different professors, so studying together isn’t the same as it used to be.
“It's a new experience, since we don't usually study together now. I have to do it by myself,” Nirmani said.
Nishtha then added, “I was going to say the same thing. I would say that I was really dependent on my sister during high school ... and I was a procrastinator in high school, but now I can't really do that. I have to change some of my habits.”
Both agreed that the novelty of being twins has increased the attention they’ve received. They have been featured in news stories and are recognized by strangers. While they are somewhat used to it, neither is particularly fond of the extra attention. But that hasn’t dampened their collegiate enthusiasm.
“College is a time when we're building up for the real world and for our careers. We’re enjoying going through that journey and that process of making friends and new connections with new people. College is a totally different environment,” Nishtha said.
“We don't have the dorm room experience which I know is, for a lot of people, a really big thing, but just being able to be in this journey, in this process of going into the real world and making new connections, and looking forward to having internships and having real life job experiences, I think that's the most exciting part, because I know from here, after these four years, it's going into the real world.”