This may be a case of Hannah and her Sisters, or Sisters are Doin' It for Themselves.
Whether you opt for a comparison with the Woody Allen movie or the popular song, sisters Hannah and Gemma Cowie are excited to be graduating together from the University of Otago today.
Gemma (23) will graduate with a master of teaching and learning, in secondary education, and Hannah (21) will gain a bachelor of education studies, focusing on primary education, at a 1pm graduation ceremony at the Dunedin Town Hall. Having completed her studies last year, Gemma is working as a physical education teacher at Mount Aspiring College in Wanaka.
Both sisters grew up at Silver Peaks Station, near Outram, and have studied together for many years, including as pupils at Columba College and later at Otago University.
And they have learned a great deal from each other.
Since attending primary school, at Lee Stream School, Hannah has always been keen to pursue a career in teaching.
By contrast, when Gemma began her Otago studies, in physical education, she was clear that she wanted to ultimately help in the rehabilitation of cardiac patients.
But several months spent in Canada in the last year of her bachelor of physical education degree, in 2014, brought her into close contact with some lively physical education teachers, and she was hooked on an education career.
And, accordingly, last year she undertook a postgraduate degree in teaching and learning.
Hannah smiled yesterday and said she had seldom used the words "I told you so'' to her older sister, about the appeal of teaching.
And Hannah has also learned a lot from Gemma.
Hannah changed her previous postgraduate study plans and this year is pursuing the same masters degree that her sister took last year.
Both have supported each other strongly,and have shared quite a few therapeutic chats and coffees over the years.
"It's been great. We've been able to get each other a coffee.''
"We're coffee girls,'' Gemma said, laughing.
And Hannah came through for Gemma again during a tough time mid-last year, when she was undertaking a teaching placement while dealing with a high academic work load and "really high'' stress levels.
At one stage she was working on assignments until 4am and had to get up only a few hours later to teach for the day.
"I'm really excited and quite proud to be graduating,'' Gemma said.
Hannah said that "a lot of hard work'' had gone into studying, "so I'm feeling pretty happy that I'm going to celebrate it''.
"I just think it's really nice that we are going to do it together, and as a family,'' she added.
And a third sister, Analise Cowie, has also begun studying at Otago this year.
