Fun fact of the day: only 31 in 1,000 births are twins, and even cooler, there are only 74 triplets in every 100,000! Lately, there has been a decline in the rate of triplets, making it increasingly more rare to have triplets in the U.S since 1998.

Right here, in Sahuaro High School, juniors Colton, Hunter, and Ethan Bunch are all navigating their high school lives side by side. The three were born through IVF on March 23rd, 2009: Colton at 11:40 a.m., Hunter at 11:41 a.m., and Ethan is the youngest, born at 11:42 a.m.

The siblings have shared that their favorite thing about being triplets is always having someone they can go to, put the blame on, and also being entertained all the time. They even mentioned how it was hard to have to fight for their mom’s attention or to get her on their side when the three get in trouble. Despite being born on the same day, they all agree that the middle child, Hunter Bunch, often acts older, or even in charge of them. Colton was fast to explain, “Hunter, she’s mean to us all the time… but we love her…”

Hunter has expressed how being a triplet has affected her high school experience in certain ways, “It’s been interesting because, like, we all share everything. So it feels like nothing is completely my own.” Despite that, her brother Ethan shared, “Uh, no, there’s not a single thing I would change. This is fun.” Gathering from these two slightly different answers, there are always going to be ups and downs in high school, despite who your siblings are or if you have them, but seeing both sides is definitely important.

As you make those changes of stepping into high school, it’s important to remember how often these three have already been asked all the questions, heard all the jokes, and they might not understand why it’s such a big deal. Ethan briefly said, “I don’t think it’s a huge deal, but there are always a few every year that’ll go, oh my gosh, you’re a triplet? And I’m like, yes, get on with it.” It seems this very vague question gets annoying after being asked for 16 years.

Despite the ups and downs of being triplets in high school, Hunter would like to tell other triplets starting school, “I would say really enjoy it, because it actually is really fun having siblings your age that you can really connect with.” Similarly, Ethan shared, “While sibling rivalries are elite… It’s okay to depend on each other.”

After being asked questions about being triplets all their lives, they would like to remind their school of one last thing, Hunter says, “I would say, yeah, you can ask us questions, because they’re the same questions we’ve always gotten asked, but you can still ask them if you’re curious.” Ethan shared, “No, there’s not a single nickname in the world that you can tell me that I haven’t already heard… but we’re not mean. Come say hi.” And one last thing Colton wants to share with his school, “It’s not cotton, it’s Colton. Thank you.”

Well, Sahuaro, these are the triplets at your school, super cool human beings, who have real feelings and emotions. Remember to be kind and come introduce yourself if you have any more questions for Colton, Hunter, and Ethan Bunch.