Their drive to help people and solve problems pushed fraternal triplets Garrett, Ty and Lydia Sheldon to pursue their passions at State Technical College of Missouri.
The Sheldons are first-year students majoring in different fields at State Tech in Linn.
While understanding how computers talk to each other attracted Garrett to the networking systems technology program, Ty enjoyed going on service calls with his father and wanted to follow in his footsteps by pursuing an industrial electricity degree. After job shadowing over the summer, Lydia decided becoming a physical therapist assistant was the best fit for her.
When they earn their degrees and enter the workforce, the triplets said, they are most looking forward to helping people.
"(My classes) will hopefully teach me how to repair someone's computer or build them one, something like that, and to just make a difference," Garrett said. "I haven't really been able to do that yet in my life, I would say, so I'm looking forward to being able to do something I guess not many other people can do."
Lydia echoed her brother's comments, adding she is excited to apply the skills she learns in her classes and work with patients.
"That's why I want to be a PTA (physical therapist assistant) - because I want to work with patients, whereas the PT (physical therapist) has more paperwork," she said with a small laugh.
Not wanting to be confined to an office all day, Ty said he is enthusiastic about working outside and problem-solving.
"I think I would enjoy the service call part of it, going to somebody's house and finding out what the problem is and fixing it," he said.
Despite originally living in the small town of Fairfax nearly five hours from Linn, the Sheldons zeroed in on State Tech almost immediately since it was a two-year technical school.
"Four-year colleges were really pushed a while ago, but you don't need a four-year degree to get the job that you want," Ty said. "A two-year degree is just as good, if not better. You only learn what is needed for your job."
State Tech also offered the degrees the siblings wanted to pursue, allowing them to experience this milestone together. The Sheldons - who are celebrating their 19th birthday today - were homeschooled up until college.
"Being triplets and growing up that way, this is really all we've ever known," Garrett said, smiling shyly at his siblings. "We don't have to take this huge step, going to college, with us being separated. Instead, you get to do it with each other while making that big step."
Going to a technical college isn't easy, and Lydia said students must be present in their classes, especially since most, if not all, of the skills they are learning in the classroom will translate to the real world.
"You can't just sit there and be on your phone," she said. "You have to be present and paying attention to what is going on and do the work that is assigned."
Learning shouldn't stop in the classroom, though, Garrett said. Students must be proactive when learning.
"I think the teachers do a good job teaching while you're just in the class, but I think you actually have to try and learn and study at home because you can't learn everything in 50 minutes," he said. "Take more time than you need to learn."
Despite the difficulty of college, the triplets said they enjoy their classes and their instructors are "there to help you succeed in life."