Wades take IHS plunge

Sydney and Garrett Wade, both 14, are making the transition from middle school to high school this fall, and though they may be twins, they’re looking to make their IHS experience their own.
“I’m confident, I feel like I’m ready,” Garrett said.
Garrett plays basketball and baseball, and Sydney plays volleyball, basketball and softball — they both intend to be active as Iola Mustangs. Janise, the twins’ mother, said they are top-notch students as well.
“I’m ready for it,” their mother said. “It’s definitely a different caliber.”
Not everything is a bed of roses during the transition, Sydney said. She knows high school is a different beast altogether. She said some of her friends, who are also moving up, aren’t as confident as they are.
“They’re really scared, they don’t know what the seniors will think of us,” Sydney said.
She said fitting in can be more difficult for girls than boys.
“Boys are not as self-conscious as girls are,” Sydney said. “Girls are a lot harder to deal with.”
Garrett said he already knows some of the high school boys, and he isn’t too worried about fitting into the crowd. Either way, they have each other to rely on as twins — maybe.
“Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t,” Sydney said with a laugh.

BOTH ARE excited about the opportunities high school can offer in regards to their education. Garrett is interested in video production and editing, while Sydney’s love is sports. She said if she can’t play sports as a career, she wants to be involved somehow — maybe sports marketing.
They both agreed the expanded amount of classes will help them take their first steps toward their careers.
“There a lot more options for classes,” Garrett said.
Janise, and the twins’ father. Mark, both attended Iola High School. They, too, are looking forward to seeing their children succeed.
“They’re really great students,” Janise said.