Going to college with your twin means always having family, a friend, and a piece of home nearby. Twins attending Trinity College together are there to support each other, even as they explore different majors and career possibilities.
Below, learn about Jenna Johnson ’27 and Sadie Johnson ’27 of Santa Barbara, California, and Jade Mellitz ’26 and Lily Mellitz ’26 of Guilford, Connecticut—some twin Bantams following individual paths.
Jenna Johnson ’27 and Sadie Johnson ’27:
Jenna is majoring in anthropology and minoring in English, while her twin sister Sadie is majoring in neuroscience and minoring in religious studies. One of several pairs of twins at Trinity, Jenna and Sadie both play club soccer, are co-founders of the Mindfulness and Meditation Club, and participate in the Big Sister/Little Sister Program. They are both on the e-board for SATE: Students Against Trafficking and Exploitation, and both work at Ferris Athletic Center and at Bantam athletics events. Jenna, who was in the first-year Humanities Gateway Program, is also a research intern at Hartford Healthcare. Sadie, who was in the first-year Interdisciplinary Science Program, is a member of Alpha Chi Omega, and works in the research lab of Charles C. Swart, principal lecturer and laboratory coordinator in neuroscience and electron microscopy manager and instrumentation specialist.
Why did you each decide to come to Trinity? Were you planning to go to college together?
Jenna: Trinity provided both of us with generous financial aid, allowing our family to send us both to attend school at the same time. When I was accepted into Trinity, the head of the department I was initially interested in emailed me to see if I wanted to meet and discuss the school. I found that gesture extremely welcoming, as the schools I was looking at in California were very big and would not have given me the one-on-one attention that Trinity has. Sadie and I looked at schools that best fit our individual needs and ended up loving Trinity for our own reasons when we visited. We decided separately about attending Trinity and then found out we chose the same school later!
Sadie: I liked the liberal arts environment at Trinity, and it has a great neuroscience program. I actually wanted to go somewhere independent of Jenna to have my own experience, because we’ve always gone to the same school, but I’m glad we ended up here together.
How did you select your majors and minors?
Jenna: I wanted to explore the study of humans—anthropology—because I plan to pursue nursing school. The classes I took were super interesting and I especially loved my Anthropology 101 class my first year, so I decided to continue with it. Liberal arts is for discovering yourself, and I definitely connect with that message. I picked my English minor because I really like writing creatively. I enjoyed my “Intro to Creative Writing” class and never looked back. I really like creative writing, and I never had a space that pushed my writing in an academic setting before.
Sadie: I picked neuroscience because I’ve always been interested in science and the brain, and I’m on a pre-med track. I chose my religious studies minor because I’ve always been deeply interested in the philosophy of religion and spirituality. My professor in my Buddhism class, [Assistant Professor of Religious Studies] Susanne Kerekes, is really amazing; she is also my professor for an independent study learning about brain frequencies and meditation.
What would you like to do after graduating from Trinity?
Jenna: After completing my studies at Trinity, I want to enroll in nursing school and apply to a nurse practitioner program to work as a nurse esthetician. I have always been interested in aesthetics and cosmetic procedures, and my interest in the field grew as it became more popular. I also want to specialize in acne; having dealt with acne myself, I am motivated to gain the knowledge necessary to help others who have experienced similar issues.
Sadie: The end goal is to be a doctor, most likely a dermatologist. I want to take a gap year in between Trinity and medical school so I can travel and experience life before furthering my studies. I have always had an interest in medicine since I was little.
How has your relationship with each other grown or changed at Trinity?
Jenna: Going to school together across the country has brought us closer as we navigate this new place together. Trinity has allowed us to grow individually, strengthening our sense of self and enhancing our relationships. People generally tend to see us as one person, but with our completely different interests at Trinity, we can fully flourish as individuals because of the diverse programs here.
Sadie: I feel like in high school we did everything the same, just because we went to a small private school from kindergarten all the way to high school, lived in a small town, and shared a car. Coming to college, we have had new opportunities to find our own different interests. We have been able to grow as individuals and get a greater sense of our own self. Even though we have gained greater independence, I really appreciate having Jenna at Trinity with me.
Jade Mellitz ’26 and Lily Mellitz ’26:
Jade Mellitz ’26 and Lily Mellitz ’26 are another set of twins at Trinity following their own paths—which do intersect, at times. Lily is majoring in theater and dance with a concentration in scriptwriting and directing and minoring in classical traditions, while Jade is completing a major in studio arts. They are both involved in Theater and Dance Department productions, are members of the Big Sister/Little Sister Program, and serve on the executive boards for the Musical Theater Club as well as Students for Accessibility. Additionally, Jade is a member of the Task Force on the Status of Women, and Lily is an editor for The Trinity Tripod, a student recruitment ambassador for Trinity’s Admissions Office, a writer and editor for the student literary magazine The Vernacular, and a member of the Honor Council.
Why did you each decide to come to Trinity?
Jade: I knew I wanted to attend a liberal arts college because that style of education closely aligns with how I was taught, being homeschooled. Trinity’s emphasis on independent thinking and interdisciplinary learning really spoke to me.
Lily: Trinity has always been on my radar as a potential school. Our mother, Sandy Jedziniak ’89, went here and introduced us to Trinity earlier than any other school. Our aunt’s sister is Robin L. Sheppard M’76 [professor of physical education, emerita], former lacrosse coach at Trinity. And when our parents adopted Jade and I from China, my mom’s friend from Trinity helped with the adoption.
Did you always plan to go to college together?
Jade: Lily and I have done practically everything together our whole lives, so choosing to go to the same college felt natural. We are incredibly close—she is my best friend and my other half—but we also wanted to make space for our own individual experiences. Even though we’re at the same school, we’ve been able to pursue our own interests and build separate academic and social circles, while still having that foundation of support.
Lily: I originally thought that I wanted to go to a different college than Jade, but I was also okay if we ended up at the same school. Then the pandemic happened, and that time of severe uncertainty, stress, and isolation really solidified our decision of going to the same college. We wanted to be together if anything like that occurred again.
Why did you pick your majors?
Jade: I’ve always been drawn to art and creativity, even as a child, but I didn’t initially expect to major in it. In fact, I thought I would pursue theater and dance, since I’ve been dancing since I was 3 years old. But during COVID, I discovered my love for abstract painting, and that passion only deepened once I arrived at Trinity, and now I can’t imagine doing anything else. I have also extended my interest to sculpture.
Lily: I was a huge theater kid growing up and I’ve done ballet since I was 3. Coming into Trinity, I thought I was going to be an English major because I also love writing. However, after taking a Shakespeare class, I knew I couldn’t do that again, so I turned to theater and dance, which combines my love for writing and the performing arts. Ironically, I did take another Shakespeare class to cover one of the theater major requirements.
What would you like to do after graduating from Trinity?
Jade: I’m still exploring my options, but I know I want to continue creating. Whether that means working in fine arts or design, I want to keep making art that speaks to people. I’m also considering using my art in design businesses for wallpaper, murals, and greeting cards, engaging with the art world in a meaningful way.
Lily: The short answer is that I don’t know, which is a little scary. In a perfect world, I would write and get a novel published. I think I’m going to take a year off to gain experience working, and then possibly do a master’s in either a writing-related field or classical studies.
How has your relationship grown or changed at Trinity?
Jade: Lily has always been a huge part of my life, and coming to Trinity has only reinforced how much I value her. Growing up, we were inseparable, but college has given us the space to grow as individuals while still maintaining that deep connection. I’ve always known she would support me no matter what, but being here has made me appreciate just how much her presence grounds me. No matter how much we grow and change, I know she’ll always be by my side for whatever comes next and wherever our adventures take us.
Lily: Jade has been my best friend since birth. Trinity has made me appreciate her even more. Starting college, students have that pressure of immediately finding a clique or a group of people to eat lunch with, and while I felt that as well, I also had the privilege of knowing that my sister was there, and that a little piece of home was always with me. Love is rarely unconditional, but our love for each other is, and I’m so grateful to not only have her as part of my college experience, but also at my side in life.
