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LUBBOCK, Texas — Sometimes teaching can feel like a thankless job, and then sometimes a student rewards you with something you’ve wanted since you were a kid.
That was the case with Coronado High School teacher Thomas Walser. One of his students, Hector Montez, surprised him in the classroom last week with a new pair of Nike Air Jordans — the shoe Walser has been coveting since he was just 12 years old, according to Mashable.
Montez and his friends recorded the moment Walser opened the shoe box and posted his endearing reaction to Twitter.
“You told me sophomore year this was your favorite shoe,” Montez tells Walser in the video. “And you told me your size, but you don’t even remember.”
Initially suspicious of the box, Walser freaks out when Montez opens it to reveal a pair of black and white “Taxi” Air Jordan 12s.
“Oh man!” Walser yells. “... I’ve wanted these since I was in sixth grade, and I never got them. ... That’s awesome. Man, I might cry.”
Its good to give back to the man who's always been by my side.🤘🏼 @CoachWalserpic.twitter.com/W4Sb5tMPim
— Hector Montez (@Augustine__09) September 22, 2016
Walser grabs Montez and pulls him in for a hug, then slips off his old shoes to make a childhood dream come true. As of Wednesday morning, the heartwarming video had nearly 200,000 likes and more than 109,000 retweets. Even Nike took notice — awarding Montez with his own pair of Jordan 12s for his generosity, Footwear News reported.
“Your teacher inspired you. You inspired us,” Nike wrote in a note. “Continue to be the change you want to see.”
Walser took to Twitter to express his gratitude to Hector, posting a picture of his new kicks.
“When your kids buy you the shoes you’ve wanted since you were 12!” he wrote. “My AVID students are so incredible! I have loved being y’alls teacher and can’t wait to see what you do in life!”
