First day of classes always creates some anxiety and nervousness for everyone – teachers, students, and families of the students.
For me, personally, my first day of college was the most stressful. I was going to live in a dorm, so I had to make sure to get everything. Thankfully, my parents were there to help me throughout the process. They made several trips to stores to get the things that I forgot to pack.
And this is something you see on every college campus – students’ family members getting things like bed sheets and stocking up the fridge for the students.
Sadly, however, some begin their college lives without such support.
Being raised in foster care or due to other personal circumstances, they have to do everything on their own.
Luckily, there is an incredible campaign that helps out those students who are alone in this process.
It’s called the Renaissance Scholars, which was started by a man named John Hunt Jr., who also had to go through the process alone when he was young. Growing up in foster care, John arrived by himself and had to do the whole move-in process by myself.
Seeing his peers being helped by their parents and other family members, John felt alone and sad.
At that very moment, John says that he decided to create an organization that will help these students. And he finally did!
In the video below, the Renaissance Scholars partnered up with Kleenex to surprise a group of teens who came to campus alone.
First, these students were called into a room without being given any explanation. As you can see, they are clearly confused, and have no idea what’s about to happen.
When they’re all gathered, John and other team members reveal the first surprise – that they’re getting free toiletries and supplies!
And, just when these first-year students are touched by this amazing act of kindness, John says the unthinkable:
It turned out that each students will be getting a complete dorm makeover!
As you can see in the video, these teens who have experienced homelessness and foster care could not believe they were getting such love and support. No wonder why some of the teens broke down in tears.
To watch the whole surprise unfolding, check out the video below –