Three’s company

Most people will do a double take, ask questions and maybe even take a photo when they spot this trio.

This is a triplet encounter.

It’s hard to imagine three 18-year-olds stirring up such a frenzy every time they leave the house. But for the Boyd girls, their close relationship means every hour — whether at home, work or school — is spent with each other.

“Growing up, we would love getting all the attention,” Alexia says.

“Friends and families would always comment on our matching clothes and looks.”

When the triplets were younger, relatives and friends wondered how their mother kept from mixing them up.

“People always assume that because I am the oldest in time that I should be responsible and in charge,” Alexia says. “But that is not the case for us, our age difference in time is just a number, not a position.”

While most students in their first year are settling in, having fun and mostly focusing on their transitions from high school to college, the Boyd girls are taking on a load heavier than that of a full-time worker.

The triplets have been working at Wing Stop in Long Beach every weekend since they were 16. When they started college this year, they took on second jobs at the CSULB library and Associated Students, Inc. to earn money for their college tuition.

“Sometimes though, I wish that someone could take my shift and I could just go home and sleep,” Brea says.

“I’ve been a single mother ever since the girls were born,” Washington says. “Their father was ordered by the court to pay child support since 1992, but he never has. I was on welfare much of the time.”

“They are all beautiful girls and have good heads on their shoulders,” she says. “I’ve always instilled in them that in order for them to not live the way we did, you have to go to school and get your degree.”

“she’s like our hero,” Camry says with a smile.

The triplets’ hard work resulted in graduating with honors from Renaissance High School for the Arts in Long Beach. Following high school, they embarked on the same path to college, choosing CSULB to start their business management majors.

“Well, I chose the major because I think it’s the easiest,” laughs Brea.

Whatever the reason, each triplet is content with how school is going and finds it convenient to take the same major, as they all study together and help each other out.