"Who's the oldest? How many minutes apart are you?" These are questions I have become accustomed to hearing when people learn that I am a triplet. For years I have been reciting the same script: "I'm the oldest, by three minutes." However, there is one question that I honestly cannot answer: "What is it like being a triplet?" My usual response is just a shrug of the shoulders. Knowing no other situation, it's hard to explain what it's like to be a triplet. To others, the thought is exotic and exciting but, to me, it's nothing out of the ordinary. While I can't answer this question, being a triplet has had a major impact on my identity. Ever since I can remember, I have been referred to as "one of the triplets". At first, this didn't seem to bother me, but as I matured, I strived for independence. I felt that I was not seen for who I was because I had two people deflecting my true personality. No longer did I want my name to be bound to my siblings. I wanted to set myself apart - create my own identity. This strive for independence has carried over into my athletic career. When I was young, I played team sports like lacrosse and basketball. I soon realized that I wanted to play a sport where I could set myself apart. For this reason, I joined track and swim, which allowed me to focus on individual events. This competitive, independent nature is a direct result of my sibling rivalries as a kid. If we weren't racing to ride our bikes the fastest, we were trying to outscore each other in Super Mario. Even as we got older, if we weren't trying to play more difficult songs on the piano, we were competing for higher grades. Being a triplet has provided me with equally driven opponents. As a result, I have always done everything to my fullest potential for the sole purpose of out-doing my siblings. Recently, this rivalry has worn off, I came to the realization that I no longer wanted to surpass them, but I wanted to work to my fullest potential for the mental satisfaction of knowing that I tried my hardest. This is evident in my athletic performance. I constantly push myself, always trying to improve my personal best. Normally, one cannot compete in both swim and winter track, as they are both during the same season. Last year, I convinced the athletic department to allow me to compete in both sports. Going from swim practice to track practice, or even swim meet to track meet, was extremely difficult. Practicing for four, five hours a day in addition to an advanced course load was a challenge, but my efforts paid off. Not only did I win the county title for pole vault, and advance to the NYS finals, I qualified for the NYS swim championships in the 50 freestyle, and was a finalist at Nationals for the shuttle hurdles. In addition to my determination to do my best, I credit my leadership skills to my experience as a triplet. Despite the fact that I was born minutes before my siblings, I have always felt subconsciously responsible for leading them. I frequently find myself directing and helping my siblings in daily chores, as well as keeping order when my parents are not home. This natural sense of leadership has carried through into my athletics. Whether assisting teammates with technique, or directing them during meets, I am always there to help guide and lead them. This instinctive tendency has not gone unnoticed, for I have been elected the captain of cross-country, swimming, and winter and spring track. I still cannot explain to people what it is like being a triplet, but I know that it has made me the independent, hardworking leader that defines my identity today.
Personally I feel you have a strong essay. I'm not a triplet but I have friends who are twins and they battle daily to form their own identity. This essay gives insight to a multiples mindset but it still shows you through it. Your actions are inspiring. Don't let being an multiple define you find yourself because you may be one of three, but you're still ONE just as anyone else.
