The touching moment a special education teacher told her struggling student that he would graduate high school has gone viral.
And, on Saturday, that student — Jamias Howard — walked across the stage and accepted his diploma at a graduation ceremony for Griffin High School in Griffin, Georgia. It was a moment that left teacher Kimberly Wimbush in total awe.
It was an especially personal event for Wimbish, as her own son also graduated in the same ceremony.
“I felt like I had two sons graduating,” the teacher told WSB-TV.
It was just last week that local and national media began telling the touching story surrounding Howard and Wimbish.
Wimbish, a special education teacher at Griffin High School, worked for months to help Howard become ready for graduation. Her assistance reportedly came at a time in which it appeared unlikely that the young man would walk across the stage.
“The future looked really bleak for him. Statistically speaking, we know what happens in life without an education,” Wimbish told USA Today. “I just made a decision that I was going to meet him after work, at the library, at the park, at Burger King, wherever he could get to meet me.”
Over time, the teacher said she was able to help get Howard on track. So, Wimbish recently surprised him with the news that he would, indeed, be walking across the stage, USA Today reported.
She reportedly drove to Howard’s home and recorded the moment as he came up to her car window. That’s when she handed him his cap and gown and the seemingly surprised student told her how much he loved her; he also thanked her for helping him.
“Oh man, thank you, I appreciate it, ma’am,” Howard said. “I love you so much.”
As Howard seemingly wiped tears from his eyes, Wimbish said, “Don’t cry.” The joyful moment was picked up by local and national media outlets, alike. Days later, Howard walked across the stage.
But the goodness didn’t end with Wimbish’s decision to academically assist her student. Howard reportedly wants to become an auto mechanic, so the teacher also created a GoFundMe account to help raise money for him to receive technical training.
So far, that campaign has brought in more than $20,000 over the past week.
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