Best friend, partner in crime, sister, and twin. You can see them early in the morning with their father and science teacher David Genis, or after school practicing with the softball team. Seniors Taylor and Payton Genis are inseperable for the most part.
Born on Feburary 21, 1996, Taylor is older than Payton by two minutes. Ever since the day they were born, the Genis twins have never been separated except one week during sophomore year. Still today, they like to do most things as a package. They play softball, hang out with friends, study, shop, and spend most of the time together.
“We don’t fight, and it’s amazing to live with your best friend 24/7,” Taylor said.
The Genis twins are known for their mark on the softball team. Being on the team for four years now, both Taylor and Payton practice early mornings and after schools to practice for games and tournaments. However, they do like to do their own things. Taylor also runs for the cross country team here at Niles West, while Payton is holding a black belt in karate.
“Taylor loves running and cross country, but I don’t like [running] at all,” Payton said.
Senior Jill Rashid is one of their best friends and teammate, and knows them for who they really are.
“I don’t look at Payton and Taylor as the ‘Genis Twins,’ but I look at them as two totally different individuals. Their personalities are both different but compliment each other so well, making them the best friends anyone could ask for,” Rashid said.
Living under the same roof and being at school all the time, the Genis twins are actually different in personalities and interest. Payton is described more as bubbly and outgoing, while Taylor is more of the shy twin. With college coming up next fall for these two, the Genis twins will not be attending the same school. Taylor is going to Creighton University to become a physcial therapist, and Payton is attending the University of Arizona to be a physicians assistant.
“Payton and Taylor are the most loving, funny, hardworking, and smart girls I have ever met. The minute we started to talk they made me feel like family,” Rashid said.