If you’ve ever been in a college classroom, you’d know that there are a few “truths” everyone goes through. Most of the time, we sit in the same seat every day, even if we’re not assigned seats. We also get to know the students in our class–kind of–only inside the classroom, hardly ever outside.
We barely know the kids in our lectures or classes, and we hardly ever make an effort to get to know them. One Twitter user’s story about his foreign marketing classmate is, however, teaching us a valuable lesson about judging a person before you get to know them. Thomas McFall shared how he was originally annoyed with his classmate for “always putting his bag and stuff on the chair/desk he usually sits in every day,” but, was surprised when he realized why.
Hey guys, I know I usually just post shitty jokes on my Twitter but bear with me because I wanted to share something.
So in one of my Management classes I sit in the same seat in the front every day. Every single day I sit there.
Now, I also sit next to some foreign guy that
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
barely speaks English. The most advanced thing I've heard this guy say in English is "Wow, my muffin is really good".
This guy also has a habit of stacking every item he owns in the exact space I sit. His bag, his food, his books, and his phone are ALWAYS right on my desk space.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
Now, every single time I walk into class this guy says "Ah, Tom. You here. Okay." And starts frantically clearing my desk of his belongings. He then makes it a habit to say "Ready for class, yeah?" And gives me a high five. Every day this guy gives me a high five.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
I was ALWAYS annoyed with this guy. I'm thinking "Dude, you know I sit in this seat every day. Why are you always stacking your shit here? And the last thing I want to do is give a guy who barely speaks my language high fives at 8 in the morning"
Just get your shit off my desk
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
But today I came to class and was running a few minutes late. I'm standing outside because I had to send a quick text. I could see my usual space through the door out of the corner of my eye. Of course, my desk was filled with his belongings. The usual.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
As I'm standing there on my phone another guy who was also late walks into the class before me and tried to take my seat since it's closest to the door.
The guy sitting next to me stops this dude from sitting down and says "I'm sorry. My good friend Thomas sits here."
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
It was then that I realized this guy wasn't putting stuff on my seat to annoy me. He was saving me the seat every morning.
And this whole time he saw me as a friend but I was too busy thinking about myself to take him into consideration.
Cheesy as it sounds, I was touched.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
I ended up going into class and of course he cleared the seat and said "Ah, Tom. You here. Okay." And I did get a high five.
At the end of class I ended up asking him if he wanted to get a bite to eat with me. We did. And we talked for a while. I got through the broken English
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
I asked him how he liked America as well. He said he misses his family but it's exciting to be here. He also said "Not every American is nice to me like you are, Tom."
I bought lunch, of course. Dude deserves it. He gave me a high five for buying lunch. Gotta keep up tradition.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
Moral of the story? Don't do what I do and constantly only think about yourself. It took me nearly the entire semester to get my head out of my ass and realize this guy was just trying to be my friend. Better late than never I suppose.
— Thomas McFall (@thomas___mcfall) April 9, 2018
Clearly, Thomas learned a valuable lesson here–not everyone is a total d-bag. Some people are just trying to be genuinely nice and friendly. It’s a positive end to a good, pure story–something we all need. Twitter, of course, was moved.
— ♡ (@m33sh_baby) April 14, 2018
This made me cry. What a great lesson!!!
— QueenLizzie (@queenlzzrd) April 18, 2018
I love this story. Thanks for sharing. You are what America should strive to be.
— Cathy Glaesman__#BoycottNRA (@CathyGlaesman) April 15, 2018
Give your new friend a high five from me. Touching story. Thanks for posting.
— BBBB Snarky Sharky ?? (@BeBe_2008) April 17, 2018
“Gotta keep up tradition” pic.twitter.com/cIHsO1zMvA
— alizé (@_alize____) April 18, 2018
I love your story, I hope everyone who read it will head your advice. ❤️
— Patty Schneider (@1PattySchneider) April 18, 2018
It’s been a very long day. A very long week. A very long two weeks. A very long 2018, really. This was a really nice story and a very welcome ray of sunshine. Thank you.
— Todd (@bucketochicken) April 13, 2018
Tell my why this thread actually made me cry man.. like this is so heart warming
— kaleidoscope eyes (@ashleyavila_) April 13, 2018