The Izquierdo triplets were born seconds apart and are close to one another, but as they enter Southern Connecticut State University this week, their career study areas are worlds apart.
Mason, Tyler and Joseph, were born in that order on June 17, 2007 and recently graduated from Derby High School where they were all honors students.
Mason, who is on the autism spectrum, will train to become a camera man at a television station and did a lot of video production in high school. He will use special services at SCSU to accommodate his disability.
The three are fraternal triplets.
Tyler will study physical education and hopes to become a teacher. "I love to work out," and focus on "staying active." he said.
Joseph's goal is to become a registered nurse -- possibly making pediatrics his specialty -- and maybe even go on later to be a nurse practitioner. Joseph said he developed a "passion" for pediatrics while volunteering at a hospital.
The young men, 18, have also participated in various extra curricular activities involving music and sports, excelling those areas.
Their parents, Joe and Nancy Izquierdo said they've worked hard to prepare the triplets for adulthood and, "They're ready for the next chapter," Nancy Izquierdo said.
The triplets were born through in vitro fertilization, mom said, so having multiples was no surprise to the couple.
"It's easier with triplets because they entertain each other and themselves," mom said.
Joe Izquierdo has been a stay-at-home dad because of an injury and Nancy works as an administrative assistant at a shipping company.
Joe said he was an extremely active parent who volunteered at his sons' schools throughout elementary, middle and high schools.
During their early years, the boys didn't interact with other children and had speech delays that quickly corrected when they entered preschool, the parents said.
Mason turned out to be on the autism spectrum, but is smart and he received special services in school with the Izquierdos ever advocating for him.
"They had their challenges," mom said, but also many triumphs.
The family is Hispanic, but the the parents said they focused on English at home.
"We wanted them to speak English first because we didn't want them to get confused, " dad said.
Young Joseph though was exposed to Italian at school and picked it up quickly to become fluent. He was a member of the Italian Honors Society.
Tyler and Mason are both athletic, the parents said.
While the triplets will live at home for now and not on campus during their college years, dad said it will be good for his sons to start making decisions on their own during the day instead of a parent always being involved.
"It's time away from us -- in a good way," dad said. "It's a different chapter now. But I'm there for them."
Joe said he and Nancy have purposefully kept the household positive.
"There's no negativity in our house. It all starts at home," he said.
Mom added, "Now it's up to them."
The triplets say they're not nervous at all because SCSU has done a great job with orientation and other welcoming events. Part of why they chose SCSU is because of all the clubs, events and wide array of programs, the young men said.