At Center Point, Alabama, things don't always go according to plan. For Timothy Harrison, he was planning to attend his high school graduation ceremony. He managed to clear it with his boss so that he could take some time off to do so.
Yet, when the day of the ceremony arrived, Timothy was stranded and overwhelmed.
You see, the event was being held one hour away from his home. His family members were all working that day and no one else could drive him there.
Unsure of what to do, he decided to show up for work at his regular 7:00 AM shift at the local Waffle House. His manager, Cedric Hampton, was incredibly surprised to see him there.
One could imagine the shock.
Timothy relayed the details surrounding his current problem. He didn't have a way to get to his graduation, and he had just missed out on picking up his graduation ticket, gown, and cap.
Quick on his feet, Cedric managed to help him out, laying out a grand plan in the process. He even rallied the employees at the Waffle House for support.
Cedric was determined to make sure Timothy would make it to his graduation on time.
According to Cedric:
“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."
From the sounds of it, Cedric really cared for his employee.
Once the plan was activated, Timothy was quickly ushered to his school to retrieve his cap and gown. Meanwhile, while back at the Waffle House, the excited and happy senior was now outfitted in his brand-new gear.
It was picked up and paid for by his coworkers, including a little bit of help from some generous restaurant patrons.
Cedric reportedly said:
“We decided we were going to step in and take care of everything for him so he could really celebrate this day. A couple of customers contributed as well."
That was really nice of Cedric. Cedric also reported:
"Within a few hours, we were able to get everything taken care of.”
With Timothy now properly fitted and in the right gear, there was still the issue of getting him to his 3:00 PM ceremony on time. While it was a very close call, Cedric helped to make sure that Timothy made it, and he did.
While his team members at the Waffle House did not accompany Timothy to the ceremony, they were probably pretty proud of him.
It's not easy getting that high school diploma, but it is possible, especially if you work hard for it, as Timothy did.
As Timothy mentioned:
“When I sat down in that auditorium it was the best moment of my life. This is a memory I will cherish forever… I’m going to tell my kids about this.”
For a bit of insight, Timothy is new at his job at the Waffle House. He's only been an employee for a little over a month or so, and he considers the people at his job as his "work family". They've been very supportive of him, with Cedric taking in a sort of father-like role.
Plus, Cedric went above and beyond to make sure Timothy was prepared and excited for his big day.
As Cedric noted:
“The old saying goes it takes a village to raise a baby. I’m just happy to be a part of that village.”
Once word spread around, news of the whole ordeal has made Timothy's network a whole lot bigger. In fact, after the local news covered his story, he was offered a full scholarship at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama.
When Timothy toured the college campus, Cedric was right beside him.
Cedric mused about all this:
“I am his full-time mentor. I feel really good about what’s about to happen next for him, and I’ll always be there along the way."
While life is full of uncertainty, Timothy's predicament led to a series of events, such as the support of his work-family, his boss, and he even got a scholarship out of it. As for Center Point, Alabama, the community can celebrate its wonderful people and empower one another.