The manager of a Waffle House in Center Point, Alabama, Cedric Hampton, made sure one of his employees made it to his high school graduation in Birmingham last spring.
The Washington Post reported that Timothy Harrison had decided to skip the ceremony to work at the Waffle House on his graduation day. His manager, Cedric Hampton, was surprised to see Harrison at 7:00 a.m. because he wasn’t scheduled to work.
Harrison had planned to attend at first but his family was unable to attend. He also said couldn’t go because the ceremony was being held in Birmingham, and he had no transportation.
“I didn’t have a ride, I didn’t have tickets, and it was a plan that I couldn’t put together all the way,” he said.
After telling some co-workers why he decided not to attend his graduation ceremony, Hampton, 38, jumped in to save the day. He advised Harrison to go home and get his paperwork, because he was going to his graduation.
“I said, ‘Go home, get your paperwork, call the school, and we will figure out the rest,'” he said. “For me, it was a no-brainer. Graduation is one of those things you get to do once in life, and when you’ve worked all these years going to school to have that moment it’s necessary to be there. Plus, I could see in his eyes that he really wanted to go, and I was going to get him there no matter what. No kid should miss their high school graduation.”
A high school senior got the day off from his job at a Waffle House in Alabama to go to his graduation. Timothy Harrison showed up for work anyway, and when the staff and customers found out why, they stepped up to help. https://t.co/i60ZHATlQu pic.twitter.com/M5P7KBt4IJ
— CBS Sunday Morning ? (@CBSSunday) June 10, 2021
But Harrison did not have a cap or gown for the ceremony. He also had no tickets. When an assistant manger, Shantana Blevins (who was off that day) found out about the situation, she drove to the Waffle House to help.
Four employees also helped and donated $40 each to buy Harrison some dress pants, a dress shirt, dress shoes and a tie. On employee drove him to the high school to get his cap and gown while another went to Target.
A few customers also chipped in, and after Harrison came back to the Waffle House with his graduation gear, he got dressed and looked like a million bucks.
“When I put on the clothes, I don’t even know the words. It was the best feeling,” said Harrison. ” I felt like the president.”
Blevins described seeing Harrison come out of the bathroom with his new outfit.
“To see his face when he came out, that was priceless,” she said.
Hampton helped him with his tie, and Blevins drove him to the graduation ceremony.
“That day I will never forget,” said Harrison.
After hearing Harrison’s story, Lawson State Community College offered him a full scholarship that also covers books. After touring the campus with Hampton, Harrison, who hadn’t planned on going to college because of the cost, accepted the offer. He said that the offer couldn’t have come at a better time, because he wasn’t sure what to do after graduation.
“You never know who you can touch or who you can influence with one simple gesture,” said Blevins.
Harrison plans to study computer science.
