Triple the graduation fun at Poway High

There will be three times the emotion and joy for Renda Quinn and Brian Quinn at Poway High’s graduation ceremony tonight (Thursday) because they have not one, not two, but three children receiving their diplomas.

Sophia, Stephen and Olivia Quinn are 18-year-old triplets who are concluding their Poway Unified educations and will be embarking on new adventures at three college campuses in the fall.

Sophia, the oldest, is headed to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and wants to become a nurse.

Stephen, born within the same minute as his older sister, is going to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where he wants to major in business and sports management.

Olivia, the youngest by two minutes, is going to her mother’s alma mater, the University of San Diego, and is considering a business major.

Even though Renda is USD’s director of Parent Relations, she said they are not likely to see each other often since Olivia will live on campus and have a busy schedule.

“It’s bittersweet,” Olivia said about the conclusion of their high school years and saying goodbye to their friends. “We’re sad to see (everyone) go, but can’t wait to get out of high school.”

Their formal educations started as 3-year-olds at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church Preschool and continued at Creekside Elementary, Meadowbrook Middle School and Poway High.

They were in the same class through third grade, then started going different ways. All three have not been in the same classroom together since, with the exception of one high school history class.

“It was kinda fun,” Sophia said about being together for that course.

“They never really relied on each other study-wise,” their mother said. “In fourth grade, we decided to try something different. So Stephen was in his own class and the girls had the same team of teachers.

“We figured it would prepare them for junior high, because we knew they would not be in all the same classes,” she said. “But in middle school they still ended up on the same (academic) track.”

Each pursued individual interests in high school. Sophia was on the dance team, a peer counselor and in National Honor Society. Olivia was on the gymnastics team, joined the Islamic Exploration Club, worked for the Extended School Services program at Garden Road Elementary and held after-school jobs. Stephen played football for four years and also worked in the ESS program at Painted Rock Elementary.

Last fall, Stephen and Sophia were independently elected by their fellow Titans to be Poway High’s homecoming king and queen. They don’t know if siblings have ever been crowned together before in the school’s history. “It has to be a rare occurrence,” Sophia said.

As for their favorite high school memories, Olivia said hers have been “being in the front row (at ball games) in the spirit section.” Sophia said “going to school dances together” and Stephen added, “playing football, under the lights.”

Olivia said what she liked best about high school was “the people I met, my best friends.” Sophia added that Poway High has “a lot of diversity. Not culturally, but a lot of (different) kinds of people with different interests.”

“(Poway High) is a tight-knit community, which was cool,” Stephen said.

“I’m excited for them,” Renda said. “They are ready for the next phase and ready to move to college and be independent. I know how fun college is and the great friends they will make.

“For me, it will be a big adjustment,” she added. “For all of us, it will be a different way of life.”