Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Johnny, front, and George Huynh, waited at the bus 19 stop for their charter school bus from Dorchester to Boston Latin School.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Johnny, front, and George Huynh on the way to Boston Latin School. Stepping aboard the bus is like entering a different world from their rough Dorchester neighborhood.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

When Johnny and George Huynh get on the bus to Boston Latin, students often study and play chess.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Johnny Huynh pulled books from his locker at Boston Latin, where he and his brother, George, are both at the top of their class.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Johnny Huynh tutors other students at Latin four days a week.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

George Huynh spoke to teaching intern Michael Manning during his 10th grade history class, as another student, Connor Kopp, waited.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Johnny Huynh tutors Bao Truong, 11, (left) with math homework.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Johnny Huynh made his way to class at Boston Latin School.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

George Huynh practiced drills with coach Vinh Bui, of Masae basketball, at the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Johnny Huynh, 17, got ready for school in the morning. He sees little of his mother, who lives in the apartment but suffers from mental illness and doesn’t speak English.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Johnny and George Huynh arrived at the Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel for the Catholic Charities Greater Boston Christmas Dinner with mentor Emmett Folgert of the Dorchester Youth Collaborative, rear, and their mother. At left is Suzanne Ouellette from Catholic Charities Boston.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Mentor Emmett Folgert pulled Johnny and George Huynh aside to talk about their speech to guests at the Catholic Charities dinner.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Johnny and George Huynh spoke with Steven and Carolyn Gusenoff of Newton, socializing before giving their speech.

Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

Mentor Emmett Folgert came up to the lectern in the middle of Johnny and George's speech to comfort Johnny, who began to cry when he talked about his father's suicide.