Not many people can say they are an identical triplet. That’s right, an identical triplet. When my parents found out they were having triplets, their minds were blown. How to raise three kids at the same exact time and my older brother, who was two when my sisters and I were born. It may have seemed like chaos then, but I will never be more grateful for the two other people I have shared almost every moment of my life with. I’ve learned some valuable lessons that I don’t think I would have learned if I didn’t have my two sisters by my side. There are some things that I have grown up struggling with, but every challenge has led to something unexpectedly positive.
Identity As you can imagine, most people can’t tell my sisters and me apart. We are almost as identical as you can be. There were stages in middle school and high school when all I wanted was to be my own person, and have my own identity. I was sick of people assuming I was exactly the same as my sisters. I had my own personality, and I wanted that to be acknowledged. Eventually, I decided not to care, and I learned that the people worth keeping in my life were those who made the effort to get to know me.
Competition Throughout my whole life, my sisters and I have played the same sports and done the same activities. We all chose to pursue ski racing which had its advantages and disadvantages. Ski racing is an individual sport, so we became our own competition. I struggled when my sisters beat me, but I also always had a support system with me too. They were there to cheer me on and help me perform to the best of my ability.
Constant Comparison Since my sisters and I look so much alike, I used to compare myself to them, and I thought I needed to achieve everything they did. However, we are different people, and cannot do or achieve the same exact things. Three years ago, one of my sisters and I broke our legs on the same day in two different ski races. The breaks were almost identical, so naturally I compared myself to my sister. I became frustrated when she recovered faster than I me, and I struggled understanding why I couldn’t be more like her. I was absorbed in not keeping up with her, and slowly forgot that I’m a completely different person than her. Once I stopped comparing myself to her, she taught me how to keep my mind focused on recovering.
Friendship I used to worry that I wouldn’t be able to make friends, because no one could tell me apart from my sisters. I was oblivious that my sisters were two of the most important friends I would ever have. They are the two people I go to for everything. They are always there to listen and offer advice. Now, I wouldn’t trade my friendship and bond with them for anything.
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Now that I’m in college, away from my two sisters, my life has changed. I don’t have them by my side with every adventure and obstacle I face. The distance from them has made me appreciate our relationships more. I consider myself lucky to have grown up as a triplet, because most people never have the same amazing experience.