Senior profile: Mulvaney triplets

Anna Newland, opinions staffer| May 4, 2022

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Ella Davies

After miles of family trips and sharing a room, the 18-year-long road is about to part. 

Finn – Business Management at Drury University

Ryan – Cybersecurity at Lindenwood University

Kennedy – Neuroscience at University of Kansas

After living together for 18 years, habits and hobbies are bound to be alike between Finn, Kennedy and Ryan Mulvaney. But the only thing the Mulvaney triplets really have in common is their birthday. After miles of family trips and sharing a room, the 18-year-long road is about to part. 

“We’re all splitting up after high school,” Kennedy said. “It’s going to be really weird. [This] spring break was the longest we have ever been apart, [so] I can’t imagine college.”

Throughout their years at school, the Mulvaneys haven’t had a class all together since kindergarten. Ryan said not having any classes together has helped them find their independence. 

“In high school, we’ve all grown into ourselves a lot,” Ryan said. “We figured out that we’re all very different people with our passions and personalities. [We’re] just growing up and growing apart.”

All three are involved at KHS with various clubs and extracurriculars. Finn is a part of the Dive and Lacrosse team, and Kennedy is in the German National Honors Society and Waffle Club. All three of them are all a part of the 2022 class committee, but each have separate sports and clubs to feed their personal interests. 

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We figured out that we’re all very different people with our passions and personalities. [We’re] just growing up and growing apart.

— Ryan Mulvaney

“We all like to be outside doing something no matter what it is,” Finn said. “Ryan and I might be fishing while Kennedy is sitting in a hammock reading a book. 

The Mulvaneys said they spend lots of time together, whether it’s family game nights or hanging out on the weekends. Their family bond is viewed in many ways from an outsider’s perspective, but their older sister, Rylee, describes it as “supportive competition.” 

“Everything’s always a game or competition in our house. Somebody’s got to be better than the other,” Rylee said.“But we always want the best for each other and have each other’s back in situations regardless of the circumstances.”

The Mulvaneys have always supported each other no matter the difference in goals. This has included Kennedy’s plan of being the only one of her siblings to attend an out-of-state university. She will be going to the University of Kansas to study neuroscience next year.  

“I’ve always planned to go far [for college], but I wanted to be near my family,” Kennedy said. “I didn’t want to go to New York or California, but I didn’t want to stay in Missouri. I’m big on traveling and getting new experiences, and I don’t think [staying] here would give me that.” 

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But we always want the best for each other and have each other’s back in situations regardless of the circumstances.

— Rylee Mulvaney

Like Kennedy, Finn had ideas for college out of state, but decided on staying closer to home. He will be attending Drury University in Springfield, MO on a diving scholarship. 

“I thought about going to Colorado [for college], but it would be difficult for my parents to [visit] me because of how far it is,” Finn said. “If I wasn’t able to go to Colorado then I would want to stay here, closer to everybody.” 

Unlike his siblings, Ryan said he always had plans of staying near home. He is planning on studying cybersecurity at Lindenwood University.

“I decided to stay close for my first year,” Ryan said. “Being at a new school without my siblings and family will already be a lot to get used to. I couldn’t imagine being in an entirely different state.”

 Despite their future differences, the Mulvaneys said they will always share their family bond.

“We push each other’s buttons to make each other mad, but being triplets, it’s a given that we will always be there to talk to and lean on each other,” Kennedy said. “Though it will be hard going from seeing each other every day to being in three separate places, we will always support each other’s decisions and plans like we have growing up.”