PLEASANT PLAINS — As identical twins, Destany Standard Lytle and Felisha Standard have often been mistakenly identified. And, at least once, the sisters tried to be mistaken for each other on purpose.
“I remember when we were in second grade in Corning, we wanted to take each other’s test, but when it came time to do it, we couldn’t,” Felisha said. “We both started crying and told the teacher we were trying to switch places.”
Destany added, with a smile, “That’s the last time we tried that.”
Although they are identical twins, Felisha said people might tell them apart if they look closely. Felisha has a mole under her left eye, and Destany has two freckles on her chin.
Destany and Felisha will graduate from Midland High School at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in ceremonies at Independence Hall on the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville campus. They would have walked across the stage one behind the other, in alphabetical order, but Destany is now married and has a different last name. She married Ben Lytle Jr. on July 7, 2012, and they live in Floral. Ben is a 2010 graduate of Midland High School.
Although they are not honor graduates in the class of 36 seniors, they both have the same grade-point average of 3.5.
The 18-year-old twins were born in Whitehaven, Tenn. Destany is the older one, by one minute.
They are the daughters of Terry and Shannon Standard of Pleasant Plains and Angel Robinson of Neelyville, Mo. The twins’ parents divorced when they were 4. They moved to Pleasant Plains three years ago when their father accepted a job in the area. Terry Standard is a senior construction materials inspector for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
Until she was in seventh grade, Destany lived with their mother, then went to live with their father. Felisha stayed with their mom until 10th grade, when she moved with her sister and father to Pleasant Plains.
Felisha said they were separated in school at an early age “because they thought we were becoming too dependent on each other.” They shared no classes at Midland High School.
After graduation, Destany plans to attend Arkansas State University in Heber Springs, then transfer to ASU-Beebe to earn a degree in teaching. She received the Batesville Optimist Club Scholarship for $500.
Felisha plans to attend Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., then transfer somewhere else to earn a degree in civil engineering.
While at Midland High School, Destany was a member of the Student Council, the Senior Beta Club, Bible study and the softball and basketball teams.
“I was the 800-meter state champion in 2011,” she said. Destany also likes to draw, do scrapbooking and sew.
Felisha’s high school activities included the Senior Beta Club and Bible study. She also paints.
For community service, Destany organized a project to take place mats to the Rolling Hills Nursing Home in Batesville. Also, she and Felisha have volunteered to clean up a “forgotten” cemetery, the Salem Cemetery in Floral.