From a move across the world to embracing university life and now graduation the Pizzuto-Pomaco triplets have tackled life in threes.
Anna, John and Josh will be awarded their degrees from the University of Aberdeen during the same ceremony on Tuesday June 25 – all achieved with first-class honours.
The trio moved from Woodbury Heights New Jersey, USA to take up places at the University, inspired by a long family connection to Scotland.
Anna will be awarded a degree in History and International Relations, John will be conferred with a degree in Sociology, Theology & Religion while Josh will collect a degree in Politics and Theology.
Graduation will be a special and poignant time for the siblings, who lost their father Joe to Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in late 2022.
John said: “We are incredibly pleased to be graduating even amongst difficult circumstances. We know our dad would be proud.
“Studying alongside my siblings was honestly a blast. Anyone who knows us knows that we are extremely competitive. Yet, being at the same university allowed us to support and celebrate one another. We were never alone, and always had someone to turn to, even in difficult times.”
The whole family moved to Scotland in 2020 when mum Julia took up a post as a Church of Scotland minister in Peterhead.
Anna said: “We didn't intend to end up all at the same university or even in similar subjects, but it just so happened that way.
“We've been in the same schools and classes all through school, so it was a really familiar experience, and helped make our first experiences at university a little bit easier.
“Even though we can all be quite competitive, we're always in each other’s corners and rooting for each other. It's always interesting as well when a lecturer discovers that they've taught one of my siblings before!”
Graduation will mark the end of their academic journey together as they move on to follow individual career paths.
“It feels like quite a full circle moment to be graduating together and it will be one of the last big things that we will all being doing together before we move off in different directions,” Anna added.
But each will look back on their time at the University of Aberdeen fondly, with Anna’s continuing as she undertakes a Masters in Theology to explore her research interests more deeply.
She said: “I've loved getting involved with Just Love, a society that works to equip students to pursue the biblical call to social justice. It's been amazing to get stuck into both the international and local justice community. I've also made great friends - and highlights include cooking for many Just Love events.
Josh, who has won multiple awards as editor of the University’s student newspaper The Gaudie, said: “My favourite times at uni were spent in the company of friends, whether at the newspaper or volunteering with Just Love Aberdeen. The people really make this university.
“I am so pleased to be able to graduate alongside my siblings, who have been there for me through thick and thin.”
John embraced the surrounding areas as well as campus life. He added: “I would definitely recommend a visit up north to Peterhead - the Blue Toon - and along the Moray coast, as well as into the cairngorm mountains to the west.”
John will now take on Christian youth work while Josh heads to Glasgow to begin an MA in Multimedia Journalism.