Cougar Clans: The Siblings of CPS
Cougars are solitary animals. Leaving their mothers and littermates behind at a young age, they set off alone to hunt to mark their own territory. So what happens when cougars are forced to stay together? To go to school together? Some College Prep “cougars” are figuring out the answers to those questions the hard way: by attending the same school as their siblings. We caught up with a few sibling pairs to find out how they’re coping.
Jane (’16) and Lucy (’17) Vaughn
Photography by Lena Milton
What are three words you would use to describe your sibling?
Jane: She’s very kind and positive, and… ratchet?
Lucy: I was going to say nice but I don’t know if that’s true.
Jane: Say: “She’s a friend”
Lucy: She’s a friend! Best friend, that’s two words. And pretty.
Jane: You’re my best friend too!
What’s the worst part about going to the same school?
Lucy: I have to see her face. That’s a joke!!
Jane: I was going to say that! No, It’s actually not that horrible.
Lucy: Well if we wear the same clothes—
Jane: — people can see! If we borrow each other’s clothes then everyone can tell.
What did you last fight about?
Jane: We didn’t go to Starbucks in the morning because I couldn’t wake up early enough.
Where do you see your sibling in 20 years?
Jane: Owning 20 pugs.
Lucy: No, Jane, I would never own 20 pugs, who do you think I am? I’m not a hoarder!
Jane: Eight.
Lucy: Three!
Jane: Okay, three pugs named Betty, Boop, —
Lucy: Actually, no, two bulldogs. That’s it. And Jane would be living in New York and being, like, a sophisticated person.
Who would last the longest in the Hunger Games?
Lucy: Me.
Jane: Me! Obviously.
Lucy: Jane you would die!
Jane: I’m very resourceful. Okay, so maybe she would, but I can use my—
Lucy: I can run, Jane!
Jane: We’d be really awesome at the TV show Amazing Race.
If you had a sibling theme song, what would it be?
Jane: 3005 by Childish Gambino.
Lucy: True.
Megan (‘15) and Nathan (‘17) Demmel
Photography by Lena Milton
What are three words you would use to describe your sibling?
N: Uhh…
M: They can be flattering.
N: Hardworking, stressed, and athletic.
M: He’s friendly, cheerful, most of the time, and…. Strategically minded?
What’s the worst part about going to the same school?
M: Trying to get up in the morning and get ready for school because Nathan always takes a really long time. He sleeps in and I’m like his alarm clock, so…
N: That she wakes me up in the morning.
What did you last fight about?
M: It might have been something to do with Nathan being slow and me yelling at him to hurry up.
N: Yeah, that was probably it.
Where do you see your sibling in 20 years?
N: Probably at some super professional, well-paying job where she’s in, um, a cubicle…
M: A cubicle?? Okay, that’s wrong. He’s probably working with children—
N: No.
M: — doing some thing personally fulfilling that he doesn’t know he wants to do now, like being a preschool teacher.
Who would last the longest in the Hunger Games?
M: Oh, me.
N: Yeah, her.
M: I’m more ruthless than he is.
If you had a sibling theme song, what would it be?
M: Blinded by the Light.
N: Yes.
Hannah (‘15) and Athena (‘18) Ahn
What are three words you would use to describe your sibling?
A: Hard-working, nice, and fun.
H: Smart, nice and……. bubbly.
What’s the worst part about going to the same school?
A: There’s no bad part.
H: Yep, no bad part.
What did you last fight about?
H: I don’t think we’ve fought about anything. At least not in the past couple years.
Where do you see your sibling in 20 years?
A: In a very good job that’s very financially secure.
H: How old are you in 20 years, 34? I imagine you in a warm, sustaining relationship and in a very fulfilling job with many really fun hobbies.
Who would last the longest in the Hunger Games?
A: Hannah, because she’s heartless.
H: Yeah…
A: And she’s more fit, and she’s taller, and she’s bigger, and she’s stronger, and she’s more smart about things. I’d be worried about my hair and she’d be running away from fire!
H: Also, I don’t think Athena could kill people, whereas maybe I could.
If you had a sibling theme song, what would it be?
A: The Final Countdown.
H: We’re All in This Together from High School Musical.
A: Yes!