A South Carolina woman was inspired by an act of kindness and helped a high school senior pay off her debt so she could walk the stage at her graduation. Dr. Ericka Hursey, principal of Lower Richland High School, was in the process of pulling a student from graduation because she owed money to Jostens, the company that sells caps, gowns, and class rings.
But then the phone rang and it was Karen Moore, a former Lower Richland grad herself. Moore offered to take care of any debts students who were about to graduate had so they could still graduate and that’s when she learned about the girl who owed Jostens. With $300, she was able to pay it off and the girl went to graduation debt-free.
Moore says her biggest inspiration for the act of kindness was the story of Robert Smith, who recently pledged to pay off student loan debts for the grads at Morehouse College. He said to “pay it forward” in his speech and Moore took it to heart. She was invited to graduation by Dr. Hursey and met the teen she helped, who she says was thankful and “just a sweetheart.” Moore even gave her some pocket money, too.