Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram
For 22 years, fraternal twins Claire and Grace Hall have shared everything—from bedrooms to best-friend status. So when the Trussville, Alabama, natives transferred to the University of West Alabama, neither questioned whether they would continue life side by side.
The sisters began college at Jefferson State Community College, just 30 minutes from their home. When it came time to transfer, Claire says Grace led the search.
“I didn’t do a lot of investigating,” Claire admitted. “But when Grace brought up UWA, I checked it out.”
“The campus is beautiful and surrounded by nature,” Grace said. “And it’s smaller, so I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed. I’d also heard they had an amazing education program.” Claire, meanwhile, chose environmental science.
Both say supportive professors and close-knit classes made UWA feel like home.
“My professors are very approachable, and I can go to them anytime and for anything,” Claire said. “They really wanted to get to know me,” added Grace. “And they’ve been helpful throughout my college journey.”
Though both describe themselves as introverts, neither let that hold them back. Claire traveled to Tennessee with her Appalachian Ecology class over spring break, joined Outdoor Recreation Conservation Association (ORCA) club and is helping Dr. Kevin Morse with the Sucarnochee Watershed project this semester. Grace gained confidence during her internship at Cahaba Elementary in Trussville. “I think I’ve become more outgoing,” she says.
For Claire, hands-on learning has been the most impactful part of UWA. “It’s not just listening to lectures. It’s going out and immersing yourself in it. I think my field classes will set me apart for future job opportunities.”
This semester also marked the first time the sisters didn’t room together, with Grace living at home. “It’s the longest we’ve been apart,” Claire said. “It’s been weird, but we called and texted often.”
Growing up, their mom dressed them alike, but as their personalities developed, they embraced their differences. “I’m glad we aren’t identical,” Grace said, laughing. “I think it allows us to express ourselves more. But Claire is like my other half. I’m thankful we went to college together—it really helped with the transition.”
As she prepares to graduate in the middle of the school year, Grace said that her next steps feel clear. She plans to substitute teach through the spring, and with several teachers at her school expecting, she hopes to secure a long-term substitute position until she finds a permanent teaching job for the upcoming school year. With three elementary schools in Trussville, she feels optimistic. Although her internship included both kindergarten and fifth-grade classrooms, she preferred the more complex content, and getting to know the larger group of students in fifth grade. “I enjoyed watching my kindergartners adjust and grow, and all the fun activities you get to do, but I liked fifth grade better,” Grace said.
Claire, meanwhile, is still exploring her options. “I’m looking for internships and jobs—in conservation, hydrology, or field work. I’m not a lab person—I like being connected to the environment.”
Walking across the stage in separate fall commencement ceremonies, the twins, both honor graduates, say the milestone feels both surreal and exciting. And after spending a semester living apart, they are looking forward to sharing a space, a routine, and the bond that has carried them through every step so far.