Man's wholesome experience about his 'mean' high school teacher has the internet in tears

The man was initially confused because as a child he was terrified of the teacher and wasn't expecting a kind gesture.

PUBLISHED SEP 22, 2024

Representative Image Source: Pexels| Katerina Holmes

Looking back at childhood memories, everyone has that one mean or extremely strict schoolteacher who everyone was terrified of. But as we grow up, we learn to see beautiful qualities hidden inside an individual, and that's when we remember other aspects of that teacher's personality. When u/lyrebird asked people on Reddit what was the most wholesome thing they had experienced, a student responded with his story about one such teacher.

Representative Image Source: Pexels| Max Fischer

The user, u/1drose, shared his experience with a high school teacher who everyone thought was plain cruel and tough. However, when he encountered her from a different perspective, what he witnessed was heart-melting. Sharing a little background, the man mentioned that he had a teacher in high school who taught health classes. He characterized her as a super tough and mean lady as many students believed it back then. However, when he had a mandatory CPR class and couldn’t afford it, the same “mean” teacher did something thoughtful for him. “CPR day came and she told me to go with the other students. I gave her a confused look to which she replied ‘You're good, baby.’ And she had paid for me,” the man wrote. As confused as he was, he was beginning to get a hint that there was more to the tough-looking teacher. He continued to share more experiences he had with the same teacher that left him puzzled.

Representative Image Source: Pexels| Tima Miroschnichenko

“Later in the year, I fell asleep in her class. It was a home game day (basketball), and she told me to lay back down after the bell had rung,” he wrote. The teacher promised to wake him up in due time but she also did something beyond helpful. “She dimmed the lights and played some light jazz while she did her work at the computer. I hadn’t been sleeping well at home and I’m guessing she knew,” he added. The teacher seemed to understand his situation and stepped out of her strict demeanor to reveal the softer side hidden within her. “I woke up when she brought the lights back up and she handed me one of her ‘cups of soups’ she had warmed up,” the man added. Despite not communicating clearly, the man understood, “she had my back and I made sure she knew I had hers.”

via GIPHY

Sharing yet another experience as “one of the most wholesome,” the man revealed a memory from his senior night. As parents and children stood together for an induction, the teacher noticed that the boy was alone. “Bless her heart, she fell from her seat running towards me. She put her arm through mine and just looked forward, chin up proud as hell as they read my stats/grades/etc.” the man recalled. The man poignantly recalled feeling immensely proud seeing his teacher stand up for him and be proud of him.

Representative Image Source: Pexels| Yan Krukau

He even added that he would visit her regularly after graduation, overflowing with gratitude for her kindness and thoughtfulness. People were smitten and surprised to see the teacher hold the purest heart despite her rumored reputation. u/loveisatacotruck wrote, “What a beautiful person!” u/oathkeep3r added, “Oh man this one got me good. This is the kind of teacher I hope to be someday.” u/deriliousgoomba exclaimed, “Thank goodness for your teacher. I'm glad you had her.”