For twin sisters Sally and Nora Shaheen, graduation is the latest milestone they have reached side by side.

The fraternal twin sisters, both molecular and cellular biology majors in the University of Arizona College of Science, will graduate early and cross the graduation stage together, as they prepare for their next chapter: applying to medical school.

"We walk to the same classes together, we drive in the same car, and we hang out with the same friends every day," said Nora. "Funny enough, even though we have different study routines, we somehow end up with the same grades."

Their father, Montaser Shaheen, is an oncologist and cancer researcher who previously worked at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. Their mother, Manal Shaheen, attended pharmacy school and helped their dad in his lab while focusing on raising their daughters. Thanks to their parents, Sally and Nora were exposed to the world of medical research at an early age. 

"Our dad would take us to his lab when we were really young, and we would watch him do experiments," Sally said. "When he got data, he would show us things like Western Blots (a lab method used by molecular biologists to separate proteins in a sample), and it all just looked really cool to us. I think from there, we both realized we wanted to have a similar career path and see what we could discover ourselves."

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Sally and Nora decided to attend the University of Arizona so they could remain close to family while taking advantage of the many opportunities offered by a large institution, they said. They also appreciated attending a university where they could meet students from many different backgrounds.

"I really liked coming to a big university after going to a small high school," Sally said. "There's so much diversity here, with international students and people from many backgrounds, and it's been nice learning from each other's experiences. The opportunities are honestly endless, too – there are so many clubs, research opportunities and classes to take."

Once on campus, Sally and Nora chose to major in molecular and cellular biology because they felt the degree would prepare them for medical school while allowing them to pursue their passion for research, especially cancer research. 

"As we took these core MCB classes, it was interesting to realize that the ideas in our textbooks were of things we had already seen in our dad's lab," Nora said.

The daughters of Syrian parents who immigrated to the United States before starting a family, Sally and Nora grew up speaking Arabic as their first language and traveled regularly to Syria. However, they have not been able to return since 2011 due to ongoing conflict in the region.

"People always assume that because we're Arab, our parents forced us into a career field like doctor or engineer," Sally said. "But we're both actually passionate about becoming doctors and about the research side as well."

The twins remember one instance during middle school when their peers made fun of their lunch: a homemade Syrian dish called yabrak and nicknamed "grape leaves." This traditional Syrian dish with variations throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean includes vine leaves stuffed with spiced rice and herbs and sometimes filled with lamb.

"As the years have gone by, we've become more and more proud of our identity of being Arab," Nora said. "That's part of the reason why we started a club."

That club – the Syrian American Club – was founded by the twins and a few of their friends to create a space centered on Syrian culture and history.

"We started with a social event, and we put posters out and made group chats on social media to get people involved," Sally said. "At our first event, we had about 70 people attend. We were really happy with the turnout."

The club met biweekly and included music, food and a welcoming space to socialize. Some of the events were more formal, and one included a Syrian professor who spoke about the country's history and impact, as well as current events. 

"We wanted to make sure everyone understood the historical context of Syria and other Middle Eastern countries, because there's a lot of misinformation about Syria in the news," Nora said.

While many attendees were Middle Eastern students or fellow Syrians, all students are welcome.

"Syria has a lot to offer," Sally said. "Our goal in starting the club was to bring people together, and it was really nice to see individuals with no background or familiarity with the Middle East come and learn more about our culture." 

According to the twins, on top of a culture of hard work and generosity, one aspect of Syrian culture they value is an emphasis on quality time with loved ones, and the idea of "family over everything."

"School for us is the main priority," Nora said. "But we also just like spending time with our friends and family. That's how we take a break."

Despite their many similarities, the sisters note they have distinct personalities. Sally describes herself as more outgoing and social, while Nora tends to be more reserved. 

Now, as graduation approaches, the next challenge may be navigating life apart. Because medical school admissions are highly competitive, there is no guarantee the twins will end up at the same institution.

"If we ended up at different medical schools, it would take some time to adjust," Nora said. "But you can't keep us apart for too long."