Crystal City High School freshman Jonathan Duncan is special – to his family, his friends, and his school.

Making friends in a new school could be difficult for Jonathan, but his older brother Jacob has guided and enabled Jonathan to become a part of the football team and the community at Crystal City High, helping him to overcome some of the challenges in his life and prepare him to face new ones.

As Jacob began high school his freshman year, a teammate told Jacob to "be nice to everyone" - this advice developed Jacob into a strong personality with ambition and leadership on and off the field, but it was Jonathan who taught him patience and caring, helping his younger brother.

Jonathan now finds his own space to grow, to make his own friends, connections, life and mistakes. His family believes he will develop into his own person, accepted by other kids in school, so that next year after Jacob's graduation - Jonathan will be part of the team.

Crystal City High School freshman Jonathan Duncan, 15, gets his hair sprayed red by his older brother Jacob Duncan, 17, on Wednesday morning before class color day during homecoming spirit week, September 30, 2009 in Crystal City, Mo.