At one time or another, everyone says that they'd really like to be a twin. When asked why, said person usually remarks, "It'd be fun to have someone look exactly like me." Said person clearly does not understand that not all twins look alike. We fraternal twins get the worst of both worlds: We have to share everything but don't have anyone to trade places with. Here are some of the biggest fraternal twin struggles I've experienced.

1. You can’t switch places

That means no swapping for exams, drivers ed, or bad dates. Also, if you were long-lost twins, you'd never know even if you went to the same summer camp ...*gasp*

2. “You two can't be twins -- you look nothing alike!” gets old quick

We're twins, even though we don't look alike -- I promise. Many twins don't look alike (i.e., all male-female twins), so it would be nice if people could stop expecting my sister and I to look like the perfect British twins from "Legally Blondes

" (because we would obviously switch lives with them if we could, so don't rub it in).

3. One of you always looks older

For me at least, the height difference was (and is) very pronounced. Just once it would be nice for people to think I'm the older one.

4. You still have to wear matching outfits, but it just looks stupid because no one knows you're twins

Expectation:

Reality:

Ignore the fact that babies are adorable regardless of outfits and that it looks like Annika (my large twin) and I are jamming to T Swift. Instead, appreciate the fact that she is twice my size, so the identical outfits make no sense.

5. Your teachers go the whole year without realizing you’re related

This might be plausible if your last name is "Brown" or "Smith," but when it's "Kollevoll" then they're just being ignorant. Especially when they mention that you two don't look alike as their excuse.

6. You’re always competitive about who is smarter, more athletic, or prettier because even though you aren't identical, you're still reaching life milestones at the same time

She got her license first, but I started college and got a car first (not that I'm keeping track or anything).

7. Your parents still mix up your names but they can’t use the “you look alike" excuse

Props to my dad for rocking the alligator tie in this picture and not complaining, though. Also, appreciate my power suit for Easter brunch (I wanted to look like Hillary Clinton because I was ahead of my time) compared to Annika's sparkles and corn rows.

8. You have to endure all the shared twin things with none of the Zack and Cody benefits

We share birthdays, graduations, proms, etc., and yet we can't even trick people like in a bad Sprouse twins straight-to-DVD movie (bonus points to Cole for that suite face in the above DVD cover).

9. People always have to mask their disappointment when you tell them you’re not an identical twin

Because they know it means your life couldn't be a Mary Kate and Ashley movie, and thinking about that for too long actually makes me quite sad until I remember how vaguely creepy they look now.

But:

10. You get to be your own person

We go to different colleges and have separate interests, but it's good to not have everything in common.

11. You love your twin despite all your differences

We might not finish each other's sentences and we do fight sometimes, but we still love each other like all siblings do. Annika is my favorite travel partner, fashion critic, and adrenaline buddy, and I wouldn't have it any other way.