Student emails professor that she can’t make class because a bear got into her car — then sends proof that leaves him speechless
Professors are rarely entertained by the excuses that come their way from students. From white lies to funny stories, they can always tell when it's a convincing excuse from a student who wants to skip class. But when Mathew C. Pittman (@matthewcpittman) received an email from a student explaining why she couldn't make it to class, he did not believe it until he watched the video as proof. Sharing the hilarious story on April 5, 2026, the TikTok user revealed that the video shared by the student left him speechless.
@matthewcpittman @sydneythorn10 met a #bear and ended up with the best #excuse of all time #college #blackbear ♬ original sound - Professor Pittman
Pittman's student wrote in her email that a bear had gotten into her car and left it in shreds. She asked for permission to miss class, saying she wouldn't be able to make it. Pittman assumed this was a made-up excuse until he checked the video evidence provided by her. In the video, she used a long wire connected from her balcony to open the door as a bear came out. While everybody assumed she could drive to class since the bear was out, the damage left inside the car was severe. Her car seats and other interior parts were destroyed by the bear, who had even defecated inside.
Sharing the video online, the professor revealed that while it wasn't the funniest excuse he had received from a student, it was still one of the most "epic" stories he had ever come across. While the story never ceases to amaze us, a bear can open a car when it's on the lookout for food. According to The Autopian, bears can rip open tents and car seats when they are hungry enough. In the past, there have been several instances of bears easily accessing car door locks to get inside.
However, what shocked and amazed internet users the most was the student's method for letting the bear out of the car, without approaching it. By using the long rope attached to the door lock to her balcony, she managed to let the wild animal out without putting herself in danger. Pittman's post received several comments from viewers who found the clip hilarious.
@Mary remarked, "I want to witness the car insurance company trying to figure out this claim." @RAG mentioned, "I would give the student a pass and extra credit for the engineering it took to get the door open safely." @H.Haunty praised, "This student deserves an A, for the innovative idea to open the car door, her polite manners towards the bear, and her video skills!"
For more such videos, follow @matthewcpittman on TikTok.