That family story will take an unusual twist when all three sisters, identical twins Leonie and Joccoaa, and Melina graduate from the Otago Polytechnic in ceremonies at the Dunedin Town Hall today.
Twins have graduated previously, but the polytechnic said it was rare for three siblings to graduate on the same day.
"It really is pretty cool that we are going to cross the stage together. It’s pretty exciting," Leonie said yesterday.
"It’s going to be a special day," Joccoaa added.
At a 3.30pm ceremony at the Dunedin Town Hall, Leonie will be awarded a New Zealand diploma in massage therapy, and Melina will graduate with a bachelor of nursing degree.
Joccoaa will graduate with a carpentry certificate at the 12.30pm ceremony.
All three sisters have faced some pressures during their educations, and Leonie’s studies have not been easy this year.
She decided to switch from her previous studies at the polytechnic and entered the massage therapy course some weeks after it started, requiring her to undertake demanding catch-up work.
In addition, she broke her hand in an accident, meaning that she could not undertake massage work for further weeks.
"I’ve had a big year."
After she completed her polytechnic studies about April, Joccoaa, who is an apprentice builder at a city building firm, broke her right foot.
Melina has faced "more challenging" workload pressures this year, including placement requirements, and preparing for her registration examination.
Despite the pressures, the sisters have also kept fit; Leonie and Joccoaa are Otago athletic representatives and Melina plays for Harbour as wing defence in club netball.
Their parents, Stephen and Karen Palmer, have provided strong support — Joccoaa and Melina have been living at the family home in Wingatui, and Leonie has also spent much of her non-study time there.
Leonie said that despite studying "completely different things", she and her sisters knew they would provide mutual support.
"You just have someone to rely on."