NATCHEZ &8212; When Lindsey Etheridge needed an English credit at Ole Miss this semester, she looked for an instructor she knew.

The one she found may know her a little too well.

Natchez native Casey Etheridge, a graduate of Southern Miss, is in her first year in the Ole Miss Master of English program. Part of her master&8217;s student duties includes being a teacher&8217;s assistant and leading small groups of undergraduate students. Her little sister Lindsey is one of those students.

&8220;I know when she doesn&8217;t do her homework,&8221; Casey, 23, said.

But more often, Lindsey, 20, is a helping hand in a discussion group of quiet students.

&8220;At first it was kind of weird,&8221; Lindsey said. &8220;But then we got used to it. It makes me speak up more. I definitely do it more so than if (the teacher) were somebody else.&8221;

The girls Early American Literature class has about 120 students. Casey leads three discussion groups of 20 students each.

Getting those groups to actually discuss is a challenge, she said.

&8220;I&8217;ve never taught before,&8221; she said. &8220;And it&8217;s harder than I thought it would be. You have to have a lot of ideas, and a plan B, and C and D in case they don&8217;t talk.&8221;

It&8217;s those awkward silences that Lindsey sometimes fills, she said. And it&8217;s easier for Lindsey to voice uncertain ideas with her sister, because she&8217;s not worried about what she&8217;ll think, Lindsey said.

Both graduates of Adams County Christian School, the girls have always been close, they said. Three years apart in age, both graduated from high school as class valedictorian and star student.

Casey grades most assignments for the literature class, but Lindsey doesn&8217;t get any special treatment, both girls said.

&8220;Sometimes I wonder what the other students think,&8221; Casey said.

The girls told the rest of the class they were sisters early on in the semester.

Meeting twice a week with the course professor for lecture and the smaller discussion group has become quality time of sorts for them.

&8220;Outside of class we don&8217;t see each other much,&8221; Lindsey said. &8220;After lecture we meet up and go get lunch.&8221;

Lindsey, a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, is a junior international studies major. She&8217;ll study abroad in Germany next semester, but said she may end up in another of her sister&8217;s classes before she graduates.

Casey has a year and a half left in her program.

Mom Cindy Etheridge has requested permission to come film the shared class for family video archives, but both girls have rejected the idea.

&8220;I just thought it was unique,&8221; Cindy said. &8220;I&8217;d love to come, but they won&8217;t let me.&8221;

This week both girls are home for Thanksgiving with mom and dad Glenn Etheridge.

Do you know a student with a Bright Future? Call News Editor Julie Finley at 601-445-3551.