Not everyone has the same high school experience. Some enjoy their days walking the halls with friends, while others dread going to school because of bullies and harassment.
For 15-year-old Azzy Robinson from Tennessee, it looked like high school would be pretty tough on him.
The teenager had been the victim of bullying in past years. The experience left Azzy depressed, becoming reclusive, and spending more time in bed.
“It made me feel like I was worthless and didn’t mean anything to anyone,” Azzy said in an interview with Inside Edition.
But despite the cruel treatment, Azzy has always been described by his mother, Traci, as kind and giving.
Azzy decided to transfer high schools, but the response he got from classmates was much different than what he’d been experiencing.
The students from LaVergne High School in Tennesse had heard Azzy suffered bullying, and they wanted to make sure he felt welcome and accepted.
With the wholehearted blessing of their teacher, Sonji Newman, they all chipped in some money to buy Azzy gifts. Kerolos Girgis, who wanted to pay Azzy back for his generosity in class, spearheaded the entire effort.
When the time came to surprise Azzy, he had no idea what was happening.
Kerolos and another student walked into the classroom towards an unsuspecting Azzy, gifts in hand. “We got you some stuff because of, like, how generous you are and everything you do,” Kerolos told Azzy in the video.
After Azzy unwrapped the first present, a pair of Nike shoes, he broke down in tears and was left without words.
“All the stuff you’ve done for everyone in this class,” Kerolos said to Azzy, “you deserve way more than this.” Azzy, hands covering his face, overwhelmed by the generosity, could only manage a teary “Thank you.”
But that wasn’t the only gift. Azzy also got more clothes and extra money from the students. Newman could not have been more proud of her students.
Newman told the Daily News Journal:
“These teenagers, they get such a bad reputation. All you see is the violence. [The video] is just something positive. People need to see we have great kids.”
It’s true, this story goes to show that there are many kind-hearted teens out there that deserve to be recognized for their actions.
As for Azzy, he couldn’t be any happier with the love and support he got from his friends.
“Those tears were pure joy,” Azzy said. “Almost proud to be me for once because they wanted to do something for me like that.”
It’s important to remember that treating people kindly or poorly can leave a lasting impression on someone’s life. Although high school can have its difficulties, hopefully, more students choose to act with love and acceptance.
Check out the video below to see more on this very touching story!
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