It’s currently the start of a new school year for children all across America.
A new school year means new beginnings. A fresh start for anybody can be beneficial as it’s a perfect time to rebrand oneself, particularly if starting at a new school entirely.
But starting over anew has its downsides. It can be extremely difficult having to adjust to a new environment full of new people particularly if one doesn’t have the means to rebrand oneself.
Michael Todd ran into this problem upon beginning the school year at a new school. Although he was bullied all of his life, there’s no telling what a new environment may bring.
Unfortunately for Todd, it was more of the same.
Todd enrolled into Martin Luther King College Preparatory School in Memphis, Tennessee.
He became a target immediately. He stood out because he wore the same clothes everyday. He was bullied for three weeks straight.
“I really don’t have clothes at home. My mom can’t buy clothes for me because I’m growing too fast,” he said.
The bullying didn’t go unnoticed either. Two of Todd’s peers decided to do something to help put an end to the torment.
Friends, Kristopher Graham and Antwan Garrett, decided that since Todd was being bullied for his clothes, they were going to provide that for him.
“When I saw people laugh and bully him, I felt like I needed to do something,” Graham said.
Graham went into his closet and pulled out some clothes. He text Garrett and asked if he would do the same. He agreed.
Together, the two football players pulled Todd out of class on Monday to hand him bags full of shoes, shirts, and more.
Todd was not smiling when he first came out of the classroom but Graham knew he and Garrett would change that.
He told Todd, “I think this is going to make you smile.”
The gesture did more than that, it gave something that once felt hopeless and bleak, full of hope and meaning.
“Best day of my entire life, basically,” Todd shared.
Graham apologized to Todd for the role he played in the bullying. Though he did not bully Todd directly, he laughed while he was bullied.
Graham confided in Todd:
“We’re in the same third period, and I apologize for laughing at you, and I want to give something to you to make it up.”
The moment was captured on video and shared on the internet. During an interview with ABC, Todd shared his sentiments about the exchange.
“I was very happy. Shocked completely.”
Todd even wore a pair of shoes that he received from one of the boys during the interview, a new pair of green New Balance sneakers.
“This is like the second shoes I have on right now,” he paused. “Basically, that’s all.”
Garrett shared that it was a “weak” moment for him and that he almost cried.
At lunch, Todd told the boys, “You know you two the only two who actually ever gave me a gift.”
The story has made waves over the internet and now people from various states are inquiring how they can send clothing to the young man.
Todd now has two new friends at his new school.
“Y’all guys are the best guys of my entire life,” he said.
Here’s to new beginnings.
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