Last night, my little brother Travis, graduated Miami Dade College.

When Big Brothers&Sisters matched me with Travis 21 years ago, he was 6 and I was not quite 30. Our backgrounds couldn’t have been more different; our communities more opposite. But we found common interests. Watching Hurricane football, going to bad Steven Seagal movies (are there any good Steven Seagal movies), and washing my 66 Mustang Convertible. (OK, a slight fringe benefit of the Big Brothers program) I liked having a little kid I could boss around, he liked knowing someone who could drive, and we both liked having a brother.

Through the years, we were constants in each other’s lives. But I always wondered whether he would escape the fate of so many of the kids in his neighborhood. He had a work ethic, but like lots of young people, he lacked a certain seriousness of purpose, especially about school. I tried to push and prod and even bribe, but it didn’t seem to take.

Of course, he had his complaints about me. Though I was a hard charging federal prosecutor when we first met, I was single and on my own. Now and again he would let me know that I needed a “seriousness of purpose.” When I met Joan (whom he immediately approved of) he proudly stood by me when we were married. He was only 13.

Over the next decade he watched me grow a family and saw the impact and joy it brought me. He saw my Mustang get replaced with a minivan, and Hannah Montana elbow out Steven Seagal. He saw me embrace the responsibility of a spouse and a parent.

But still I was worried.  I wondered what would it take to get Travis serious.

Truth is, I always knew the answer. Travis met Wilsa. They fell in love, got married in a beautiful ceremony (I was his best man). He enrolled at Miami Dade where he became deadly serious about school. When his baby, little Travis, was born, he became even more serious. He replaced some of his youthful pursuits and embraced adult responsibility.

So last night, when he graduated with a 3.5 average, Joan and I welled up a bit. (maybe more than a bit), but we were not surprised. After the summer he starts at Nova Southeastern on an academic scholarship where he intends to pursue a biology degree.

I wouldn’t bet against him. He is pretty serious young man.