DERBY - The Izquierdo brothers of Derby are triplets who attended Derby schools from pre‑k through high school, and now they will be attending Southern Connecticut State University starting this month - but don't call them a monolith.
"The biggest misconception about triplets is that we're all the same. We're not," said Joseph Izquierdo, 18.
Joseph plans to study nursing at Southern with the hopes of becoming a pediatric emergency department nurse.
Tyler Izquierdo plans to study physical education and health, with hopes of becoming a teacher.
Mason Izquierdo plans to study communications and media, with the hopes of becoming a news camera operator for an outlet such as NewsNation.
The trio said they're excited to make the transition from Derby, where the class of 2025 was about 100 students strong, to Southern, where the incoming first-year class is upward of 1,200 students.
Why Southern for all three, you ask?
"The big thing was money," Tyler said.
All three were good students at Derby. Both Tyler and Joseph earned full scholarships to Southern. Their father, Joseph Izquierdo, said Southern is also a perfect fit for Mason, who has autism. Joseph said the university offers great accommodations for students with autism, such as computer software that helps with note taking.
The trio will commute to Southern. The university's main campus is in New Haven, just about 30 minutes away, depending on traffic.
Mason said he's excited to try new classes and clubs.
The trio like learning, as each said they're looking forward to the academic workload.
"There's a lot of things in Southern I really want to explore. There's just a lot of opportunity," Tyler said. "The staff and people seem really nice and really upbeat."
Joseph said he enrolled in the university's choir class. He was an all-state choir member while attending Derby High School.
All three had nice things to say about Derby Public Schools and the district's teachers.
Their father, Joseph, singled out Jennifer Olson. She was the principal at Irving School, which housed a pre‑k program the boys went to before it moved to a wing of the high school and was named "Little Raiders University."
She became principal at the high school, and was there for all four years of the boys' tenure there.
"She really is the best," Joseph, their father, said.
Olson said that she and the triplets started in Derby schools at the same time in 2012. She said they attended nearly every school event and activity during their years in the district.
"I have a unique perspective because I have watched Joseph, Mason, and Tyler grow from kindergartners into the confident, capable young men they are today," she wrote in an email to The Valley Indy.
All three ran track and cross country starting at Derby Middle School, with Joseph opting to pursue music and EMT classes as he progressed through high school.
He took EMT classes at the Echo Hose Ambulance Training Center in Shelton.
"After getting certified I started EMS at Seymour ambulance. I'm still there and I'm at Storm Ambulance as well," Joseph, the son, said.
Tyler's fondest memories of Derby High School included band and playing at pep rallies.
"The pep rallies brought a different type of atmosphere," he said.
Mason said he had "amazing memories of cross country and track," and that he loved the district's Academic Learning Center, where he made close friends with other students who had learning challenges.
The triplets grew up on Derby's westside, Hawthorne Avenue specifically. Their parents - Joseph and Nancy - bought the house in 2006 after living in Stamford, Norwalk and in a condo community in Derby.
The triplets were born in 2007.
Their father said having triplets required sticking to routines and good management skills.
Example - after they were born dad erected a vinyl fence around the property. It gives the property a cozy vibe and looks great - but its construction was also tactical.
"I have to make sure I always knew where my guys were," he said.
The boys credited their parents with instilling a strong work ethic. Anyone passing by the property over the years probably saw the boys doing yardwork under the supervision of dad.
"Never give up. Keep working hard and success will occur in the future," Tyler said of his dad's teachings.
Classes at Southern are scheduled to start Aug. 26.
"Joseph, Mason, and Tyler are bright, talented, creative, and hard-working. I'm so proud that they're heading to Southern Connecticut State University, and I have no doubt they will continue to make their family and our Derby community proud in all that they do," Olson said.