Twin sisters Aissa and Carissa Swope have constantly challenged one another to be their best, especially academically. They set a goal to be in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. Not only did they accomplish that, but the twins’ hard work and academic achievements garnered them the top two spots in Stephenson High School’s 2025 graduating class.
Carissa was named valedictorian, beating out her “older sister,” Aissa, who was named class salutatorian. Aissa is the eldest twin by four minutes. The twins have always been competitive and strived for excellence, so it was not surprising that they were the top students of their class.
“We’ve always been competitive, so it has been a race to the top, but not one and two, just the top 10 percent of the class,” said Carissa. “Now, I get to stand next to my sister, and we both get to give speeches. It’s a blessing and I’m really excited.”
“It’s just been a long journey,” said Aissa. “We’ve always wanted to show people that we can do things or that we’re smart, and I feel like people might have underestimated us because maybe it’s because our parents are. It’s just nice to get that recognition for sure.”
The 17-year-old twins’ journey to valedictorian and salutatorian was not easy. Their parents are deaf, and the girls were responsible for ensuring clear communication between their parents and the public. Sometimes, interpreters were unavailable during parent-teacher conferences, and the girls had to interpret for their parents. When they were younger and participating in the band and glee club, their parents would come and support them, knowing they could not hear the music.
“We always appreciated them for coming to our performances,” said Carissa. “They did the same as any hearing parent would. I feel like [our success] proves to people that just because they’re deaf doesn’t mean they can’t raise smart kids who are successful.”
Despite their minor adversity, the girls still found a way to challenge each other to be and do their best in and out of the classroom. They made it their mission to motivate each other to do well, even when they didn’t realize they were motivating each other.
“We always push each other to be better,” said Aissa. “If I didn’t have her as a twin, I probably would not be salutatorian. When I didn’t want to do an assignment, [Carissa] would look at me crazy and say, ‘What do you mean? You need to do this assignment. I’d be like, OK, fine. So, she’s definitely been my biggest motivator, even if sometimes she doesn’t want to help me.”
“I didn’t even know she felt like that, because she’s always been my motivator too,” said Carissa.
The twins were so competitive that their parents ensured they were in separate classes in elementary school.
“Even though we didn’t always have the same assignment, we knew that no matter who the class teacher was, we wanted to get straight A’s,” said Carissa.
When they got old enough to select their classes, the twins got the same courses together to keep each other on their toes and to look out for one another. They plan on attending the same college, Emory University. Carissa intends to major in neuroscience and behavioral biology to become a family medicine physician, and Aissa will major in biology to become an anesthesiologist. Their parents inspired Carissa to study family medicine and, hopefully, open her practice one day.
“I’ve always wanted to open up my practice and have it be accessible because my parents would be left waiting at doctor appointments or not have an interpreter, and having to write stuff down—important medical information,” said Carissa. “So, I just always want to have my practice to ensure that it’s accessible, have interpreters, and have the things for people who may be disabled or speak a different language.”
Whatever the future holds, Aissa and Carissa will always support each other during their post-graduation journey.
“With having a twin, there’s always someone to lean on, no matter what,” said Carissa. “When there’s a challenge or our life is difficult, we can always cry it out together and get through it together.”
“There’s always someone to bounce ideas off of and see the right option, the right path for us,” said Aissa.