Every day, stepping into the classroom and dealing with students who all have their own unique personalities and ways of learning can be really challenging. But when you see a shy student finally raise their hand and share their thoughts with everyone, or when a student who has been struggling earns an ‘A’, it makes everything feel worthwhile. Teaching takes a special kind of person because not everyone can handle the responsibility of helping young minds grow into caring and responsible individuals who will contribute positively to the community.
A physical education teacher in Valdosta, Georgia was teaching his students about basketball when a girl named Kristin Paulk came up to him and asked if he could help her with something. The teacher agreed right away, not knowing what she would ask. Kristin then said, “Can you tie my hair in a ponytail?” Without hesitating, the teacher knelt down and began to style her hair. At the same time, another teacher named Kandice Anderson saw this surprising moment and decided to record it. She later shared the video on her Facebook page, saying:
“When your job goes beyond teaching… #CoachO #Love”
Kandice just wanted to give her friends a glimpse of what being a teacher is really like, and she never expected her video to get over 3 million views. The gym teacher had no clue that his nice gesture would go viral, making him a bit of a celebrity. Everyone thought it was super cute, and he even got to be on Good Morning America.
“It was shocking to me that it got that much attention because we all do it.”
The teacher has three kids, so he knows how to make a ponytail pretty well. He laughs and says that his hair styling skills end there, and if Kristin wanted something fancier, she should have asked someone else for help.
Kristin’s mom was also on Good Morning America, and she talked about how she felt after seeing the video. She expressed her happiness about having a teacher who really cares for her daughter.
We wish there were more teachers like this one who are willing to go the extra mile for their students’ happiness.
This video is the sweetest thing you’ll see all day.