(From left) Graduating seniors Austin, Madison and Logan Shock spread school pride and patriotism around Lake Braddock Secondary School. Photo by Tim Peterson.
"They give back -- from planning activities, Homecoming, the spring dance, a lot of the social aspects of our school -- and help to make this a great place to go to school for their classmates, teachers." -- -Lake Braddock Principal Dave Thomas
Logan Shock is the athletic one, Madison Shock is the pretty one and Austin Shock is the smart one, they said, basically in unison. All their lives, none of them has ever entered school feeling alone. That’s because together, to the best of principal Dave Thomas’ knowledge, the Shocks will be the first set of triplets to graduate from Lake Braddock Secondary at its exercises on Wednesday June 17.
“It’s awesome,” Madison described being a triplet; “Like being with your best friend all the time,” Austin continued; “Times two,” Logan finished the thought.
According to the National Vital Statistics Reports under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2013 there were 3,923,181 total births in the United States. Of those, 4,364 were births of triplets -- around .11 percent. In the context of Lake Braddock’s combined middle and high school population (2013-2014 school year) of 3,216, the Shocks represent .03 percent.
LOGAN, MADISON AND AUSTIN grew up in the shadow of Lake Braddock, living just a short drive away and dreaming of one day attending while helping at their older brother’s two-a-day football practices. Logan would follow in his footsteps and play right guard for the Bruin squad, wearing his brother’s number 54.
After a sister and two brothers before them, the triplets are the last of the “Shock Flock” to go complete their high school education at Lake Braddock.
“It’s going to be sad when the family is all graduated,” said Thomas. “But we’re all moving to the next phase. It’s been a pleasure having them here.”
The initial excitement of first matriculating developed into a keen sense of school pride for the triplets, all of whom became heavily involved in student leadership. Madison is vice president of the senior class and Austin is the class representative.
“They’re very committed to this school,” said principal Thomas. “They give back -- from planning activities, Homecoming, the spring dance, a lot of the social aspects of our school -- and help to make this a great place to go to school for their classmates, teachers.”
The triplets are also part of the Military Ambassadors Club, which helps welcome and socialize students from military families who are new to the school.
“We knew how hard it was to come to a new school,” said Madison. The Shocks’ father is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. “It’s such a large school,” Logan said; “It can be hard for students to transition,” Austin added.
To help with the transition, the Ambassadors Club organizes events like volunteering to assist with Honor Flights veterans concerts and social bonfires.
“They’re very much extroverted,” said their Student Leadership Training teacher Veeda Ranjber. “But they all have their own little personality.”
“They very much play off each other,” added another Leadership teacher Erin Fisher. “They’re just nice kids, and always entertaining, constantly keeping me on my toes.”
Their outgoing, yet individual personalities have helped the triplets develop large and overlapping friend bases throughout the school. And through those connections, they’re able to spread school spirit.
“They make it well known they’re proud of Lake Braddock, being part of the student body,” Fisher said. “It’s a loudness.”
THE SIBLINGS said their message of Bruin pride is about keeping a positive attitude, something “that our parents taught us to go in with,” Austin said.
“If you hate it, change it,” Madison said, of converting negative energy to positive among the student body.
Madison plans to take that industrious mindset to Virginia Tech in the future, study business administration and “become a boss.”
Logan is looking to do personnel work for the U.S. Air Force after attending the University of Maryland and participating in their Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.
Austin has sights set on becoming a teacher after attending Clemson University.
However they won’t be going separate ways immediately. The triplets will continue to be each other’s “security blanket, always there for you,” Madison said. “The only bad thing is when they date your friends.”