By: Hilary Hahn
5/5/2004

Never spending more than a week apart, the 19-year-old identical Parker brother twins made their decision to continue their path of life together at Friends University.

“It’s fun,” Austin Parker said talking about being a twin.

“Yeah, it’s fun,” his brother Bryant Parker agreed. “We are like a support structure for each other.”

At a young age, the brothers used their identity to be devious in school -- not doing anything really bad, but just to have fun.

“We used to switch classes with each other,” Bryant said. “Well, until one time my brother had a test in his class, and I felt bad and told the teacher what we did.”

Bryant went on to say that there are two kinds of twins — those who hate it and try hard to be different, and those who still dress alike and love being twins even later in life.

The Parker brothers appreciate each other and fall under the second category of twins.

“We have become accustomed to each other,” Bryant said. “Our friendship has advanced to the point where we avoid conflicts. It’s a give-and-take relationship.”

They spend almost every waking minute together with the same class schedule, sharing a vehicle, being involved in the same activities such as sports and music, and just hanging out as friends.

Each morning, Austin rises early to choose their matching clothing for the day.

Everything is identical from their shirts, pants, belts, shoes, even down to their socks.

“I don’t like to get up early,” Bryant said. “If I don’t like what we are going to wear, we compromise.”

The two brothers buy two of everything when shopping, which can make it difficult sometimes.

“If there aren’t two, we won’t buy it,” Austin said.

Even though they look alike every day, and it is hard to distinguish who is who, except for small hints such as Bryant wearing glasses and the instruments they play in band, the brothers have different personalities that make each of them an individual.

Bryant is easy going, whereas Austin is more structured. They share the same truck, but Austin usually drives.

“We sometimes think the same,” Austin said.

“We finish each other’s sentences and thoughts,” Bryant added.

After finishing high school in three years in the International Baccalaureate program at East High School in Wichita, the two weren’t ready to split up.

They wanted pursue music and play football while in school.

“God led us here,” Bryant said. “We are glad that we are able to do both.”

Both are also majoring in music at Friends. They started playing the violin when they were three-and-a-half years old. Then in the fifth grade Austin started to play the bass trombone and Bryant played the tuba.

“We recruited them like crazy,” said John Taylor, the brothers’ adviser and director of music education and instrumental music. “I have a wonderful relationship with them and wanted to help them with their financial package. I wanted to make sure we didn’t lose them.”

Taylor knew the Parker brothers before they came to Friends because they were involved during high school with the Wichita Wind Ensemble, which Taylor directs.

“They were brought up in an amazing way,” Taylor said. “They are well-rounded and very polite, always using sir and ma’am. When you first meet them you are taken aback because of their positive attitude.”

This positive attitude is carried through everything they do, including music and sports, Taylor said.

Last Fall, Austin played offensive guard and Bryant played offensive tackle for the Friends football team. They plan to play four years of football at Friends.

“We love football,” Austin said.

“Yeah. We love football,” Bryant added.

Both of them tried track this year, competing in the shot put and discus throw.

This summer the twins have plans to participate in boot camp for the Army Reserves and plan to play in the Army band. They leave May 11 and don’t return until Aug. 20.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” Bryant said. “It will help us financially and physically.”

“At least we won’t be sucking wind when we come back for football season.”
Even though the twins are just freshmen going into their sophomore year, they still have a future plan to spend time together and take an identical path.

These plans involve both of them continuing their education in law at Washburn University.

“They hope to join their father’s law firm,” Taylor said. “I think they will be extremely successful because they have the social skills and intellect to do very well.”

After law school, the twins have discussed going separate ways. This may come with marriage or Austin’s plans of going to the seminary, which Bryant doesn’t plan to do.