Students Also Donate Year’s Worth of Gas and Insurance
Yula High School Boys Division in Los Angeles, California, witnessed an act of kindness and gratitude on Thursday when a group of students surprised their math teacher with a car. Julio Castro had been commuting to and from work using the public bus, which often took him more than two hours one way. Despite this challenge, he had been giving his best to his job as a teacher at the Jewish private school located in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood.
Castro’s dedication to his students had not gone unnoticed. A group of students, led by senior Joshua Gerendash, spent the summer raising more than $30,000 to buy their teacher a car. The students reached out to various organizations like Galpin Motors and The Change Reaction, a nonprofit, to get donations for the cause. The fundraising efforts paid off, and the students were able to surprise their teacher with a 2019 Mazda CX-3.
The emotional moment was captured on video, and it showed Castro in tears, as he realized the impact of his students’ gesture. I feel surprised. I feel special. So, thank you to my students. They are like my kids as well, said an overwhelmed Castro.
The students had a good reason to honor their teacher. Gerendash revealed that Castro had been going above and beyond in his teaching, sacrificing his lunch breaks and after-school time to help his students with their math problems. “He made sure I understood all the material by sitting down with me during his lunch breaks and sacrificing his time after school when he could be getting to the bus stop going back home,” said Gerendash.
The car will not only make Castro’s life easier, but it will also allow him to spend more time with his girlfriend and children. Now that I have a car, I get to drop off my kids every morning. And then coming here with time to spare, I can use it on my lesson plans. Then on my way back, traffic is still bad, but I’ll be able to make it for dinner, said Castro.
But the students didn’t stop at the car. They also surprised Castro with a year’s worth of gas and car insurance, which showed how much they appreciated their teacher. The act of kindness was not only heartwarming but also inspirational. It reminded us of the importance of showing gratitude and appreciation for those who have made a difference in our lives.
In a world where we often take people for granted, it’s essential to recognize their efforts and show them how much we care. The students’ gestures demonstrated the power of kindness and the impact it can have on someone’s life. It also showed the potential of young people to make a difference in their communities and beyond.
This is a great example of generosity we can create positive change by supporting each other. It’s a reminder that we are not alone and that there are people around us who care. The act of giving doesn’t have to be significant to make a difference. Sometimes, a small gesture can have a profound impact on someone’s life.
This heartwarming story deserves recognition. The act of kindness demonstrated the impact of gratitude and appreciation on someone’s life. It showed how students can make a difference in their teacher’s life and surely this comes back to students sometimes when they need it the most in their lifetime.
Sources:
- https://youtu.be/8fHOpNYJjN4
- https://abc30.com/students-surprise-teacher-new-car-california-school-feel-good/12169652/
- https://www.inspiremore.com/teacher-who-commutes-4-hrs-daily-gets-best-thanks-for-always-going-the-extra-mile/
- https://chat.openai.com/chat
- https://readloud.net/