Talk about a full circle moment.

Kirk and Kirklyn Johnson were diagnosed with non-verbal autism at just 3 years old. Doctors told their parents, Shae and Stan Johnson, that their sons might never speak. But Shae and Stan weren’t having it. Instead they leaned on their faith, speech therapy, early intervention, and lots of music, Mississippi State University reports.

Where words failed to form, melody did. Over time, that became the language Kirk and Kirklyn used to learn, to connect, and eventually, to speak.

That gift followed the twins all the way to college.

This past May, Kirklyn crossed the stage at Mississippi State with a degree in music education, but he didn’t just walk across the stage. He helped lead the university’s alma mater during commencement and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” in front of the entire graduating class.

His twin brother Kirk isn’t far behind him. He’s thriving through MSU’s ACCESS program, a four-year residential and inclusive postsecondary program built specifically for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to grow academically, professionally, and independently. He’s also serving as minister of music at his father’s church while he finishes the program.

The brothers plan to pass that same gift forward, using their degree to help other kids discover the confidence and connection he found through music.

We love this song! Congratulations, Kirk and Kirklyn. Keep singing.