One thing that they have in common, and which greatly sets these students apart from other South Lakes families is that the Galantis are triplets.

“When I found out I was having triplets I was overwhelmed,” Terrie Galanti said. “My first thought was, ‘how do I hold three babies at one time?’”

Although many multiples are identical, or very similar looking, these students have very different appearances and interests that often astound people.

Matthew is 6’2” with dark hair, while Stephen is 5’7” with blond hair.

Matthew plays club volleyball and loves sports marketing class, Stephen runs track, plays hockey and enjoys history and physics. Elizabeth is involved in drama and wants to study business.

“I think they are similar in their respect and appreciation for their teachers and their willingness to work hard and to help others,” Terrie Galanti said, “They also love classic rock music—thanks to my husband.”

The Galanti’s have raised their triplets, as well as their oldest daughter, as individuals, and never emphasized the “triplet thing.”

“We have always been very honest and open at home about their different strengths and abilities and there is a certain level of competition and stress at times, but my hope is that they feel confident in who they are and the potential that they have to succeed,” Terrie Galanti said.

“My favorite thing about being a triplet is you always have someone there to do something with,” Stephen Galanti said. “My least favorite thing about being a triplet is probably the immense arguments we get in all the time about things.”

When people find out they are triplets, they usually react with awe or surprise.

“In my opinion my brother and I are the most similar because we both play sports, have some of the same hobbies and our personalities are kind of alike,” Matthew Galanti said. “My sister is the most different from my brother and I because she doesn’t play sports. She doesn’t really like to do any of the things my brother and I do together and her personality is different.”

The Galanti triplets turn 17 today.