My family reached a major milestone Saturday night.

My little brothers, Ryan and Troy, graduated high school.

The twins walked across the stage, one right after the other, and received their diplomas. My dad beamed with pride while my mom cried.

She cried a lot.

She cried when they walked into the gym.

She cried when Ryan, the vice president of his class, opened the ceremony with a prayer.

She cried when they walked across the stage.

She cried when they threw their caps in the air and let loose a torrential downpour of silly string.

And she cried when Troy stood up.

It wasn’t that he just stood up but what he stood up for that caused the tears to fall.

Just before Troy stood, the principal asked the members of the class who had made a commitment to the armed services to stand.

Troy rose.

He plans to join the Air Force either in January or after he graduates community college. He hasn’t officially signed up yet, but in his heart and mind he’s already an airman.

Ryan is going to community college on a two-year scholarship.

He was awarded the scholarship because of his talents in architecture. He won a high school architecture contest held by that community college both as a junior and a senior.

He is very skilled in architecture and design and has a great mind for building, installing and fixing things.

I am very proud of my little brothers.

I am not just proud of them for graduating high school but am proud that they have plans and dreams and have the courage to follow them.

It would be easy for them to just go to college because it is what is expected of them, but they aren’t doing that. They have found paths and careers that they want to follow.

It took courage for Troy to tell my parents that he wanted to join the armed services and stick with that plan even after mom said she wished he would not join. She has since eased her stance.

It took courage for Ryan to enter the architecture competition, do his best and win it.

It would have been much easier to avoid the challenges because without challenge, there is no fear of failure.

But there is no success either.

I admire my brothers for looking to challenge themselves and not being afraid to follow their dreams.

I want to always chase my dreams.

I want to face fear, unafraid of failure.

I want to search for success.

I want to be like my brothers.

Jordan Boner is a senior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or DENopinions@gmail.com.