National Sibling Day was recognized on April 10. Samford University has its fair share of both power sibling duos and of students who are the only sibling at the school.
Sophomore Julianne Jorgensen followed her two older sisters to Samford.
“I was never opposed to attending a school that both of my sisters did, but I still wanted to make sure I was choosing Samford for myself,” said Jorgensen. “As I visited and applied to other schools, I kept coming back to the fact that Samford felt the most comfortable and the most like home.”
While Jorgensen’s oldest sister, Mary Kathryn Jorgensen Davis, had graduated years before, she had one year with her other sister, Grace Jorgensen Copeland.
“I loved being with her that time even though I actually didn’t see her every day, but knowing she was here was the greatest comfort.” said Jorgensen. “We now have shared memories that I treasure greatly, and we developed even stronger friendships.”
On the other hand, senior Rachel Biddy is a senior and a triplet. Unlike Jorgensen, Biddy is the only person in her family to come to Samford.
“My whole family has gone to Ole Miss, so I was expected to at least go to a big SEC school,” said Biddy. “My brother goes to Georgia and my sister goes to Auburn, but I was drawn to Samford after an older friend sat me down and essentially told me they saw me not only doing well, but also thriving, apart from my siblings at Samford.”
Biddy explained that the social identities of her siblings and herself were intertwined in high school, so coming to Samford was an important step of coming into her own.
“It was a shock to my family when none of us went to the same school, but I think it was the first time in our lives we made big decisions just for ourselves, and not for each other,” said Biddy. “The opportunity to focus on my own individual career, relationships and faith genuinely changed my life for the better.”
While Jorgensen feels closer to her sisters through going to Samford with them, Biddy feels closer to her siblings through moving apart.
“We’re also closer than we used to be,” said Biddy. “We’re able to encourage each other from a distance, and it really does make seeing them in person that much more special.”
Kathryn Jordan, Features Editor
[Left to right: Mary Kathryn Jorgensen Davis, Julianne Jorgensen and Grace Jorgensen Copeland | photo courtesy of Julianne Jorgensen]
