Special Needs Student Tries on Friend's Jacket Every Day... Until Surprised with His Very Own
With so many heartbreaking stories surrounding high school students as of late, the story of Kaleb and Sam is one that should be going viral for all the right reasons.
The thoughtfulness of one student is covering the masses in love, and the timing couldn’t be more fitting.
Kaleb Buchanan is a student at Knightstown Community High School in Knightstown, Indiana. Kaleb is a student-athlete, and according to his teacher, a class act.
Over the year, Knightstown teacher Katie Taylor has observed the daily interactions between Kaleb and his classmate, Sam.
On a regular basis, Sam would ask to try on Kaleb’s varsity jacket, no doubt enjoying the feeling of pride that comes with varsity-athlete status.
Taylor was in tears as she witnessed Sam walk into the classroom on a typical day, and pause at his desk.
Draped over the chair was a brand new, personalized varsity jacket that Kaleb bought all on his own, to give to Sam.
Surprise and excitement crossed the high schooler’s face as he realized that this varsity jacket was his own. Sam beamed as he held the jacket in his hands, bringing his teacher to tears.
“He bought this all on his own, customized it with Sam’s name, even had a chevron on it with his graduating year,” Taylor wrote on Facebook.
Everyone watched with delight as Sam proudly tried the jacket on, saying, “Show it off! Turn around!”
“Fix your collar,” said Kaleb, walking over to his friend. The young wrestler reached up to Sam’s collar and adjusted it — gotta wear these jackets properly, people.
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“I’m just in awe that Kaleb would go out of his way to do this for Sam,” Taylor gushed on Facebook. “To be so selfless and genuinely do this out of the kindness of his heart.”
Kaleb’s mother, Kerry Buchanan, left a comment on Taylor’s Facebook page saying her son is often putting others first.
“He always looks out for others before himself and if you ever watched him wrestle he always pointed up to God before and after every match,” Buchanan expressed.
Taylor wrote that she was proud of Kaleb and “honored” to be his teacher. Sam’s mother, Shawn Cooper, also thanked Kaleb for his kind actions with her own post on Facebook.
This kid has a bright future ahead, and no doubt will make sure others have a bright future, too.
“Look beyond all the negativity in this world and stop and see around you,” Taylor encouraged. “There are some wonderful people who have the warmest hearts.”
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