r/MadeMeSmile • u/dawglover1011 • 4h ago
[FearBuck] Emotional moment at a Pennsylvania high school yesterday after a student crowned Homecoming King surprised everyone by passing the honor to the runner-up.
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u/Proper_Glass8308 4h ago
Damn. That hug at the end got me.
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u/NeuroticLensman 4h ago edited 4h ago
He was tearing up, too. Great moment for them both.
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u/henrydaiv 3h ago
Whos cutting these damn onions
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u/Extreme_Egg7476 3h ago
I just put makeup on for the first time in days and I'm so mad but also.. this is beautiful
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u/NicholsonsEyebrows 4h ago
That's why he was voted for. Guys got good bones
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u/auntieup 4h ago
This is exactly why he’s the king 👑
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u/whispersluggagebaby 3h ago
Him: I am no king
The people: This makes you more of a king thooooo
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u/JudasIsCarHot 3h ago
He’s not the king. The he gave the crown to is the king. Long live the king!
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u/AntisocialDick 4h ago
Young man was raised right. Loved him encouraging the crowd to start cheering too. True King energy right there.
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u/uhp787 3h ago
that made me cry a bit, ngl.
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u/My_Immortl 3h ago
Same! I'm also highly emotional as is, but this was super sweet.
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u/DontShoot_ImJesus 3h ago
There have been cases when someone abdicates like this, and then surprise unattended consequences follow. Nicholas II of Russia abdicated, then shortly after he and his family were murdered by communists. Roman Emperor Diocletian abdicated thinking it would lead to more stability but had the opposite effect and lead to series of civil wars in the Roman Empire.
I don't see any indication of anything like that happening here, but that's where the surprise part comes in I suppose.
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u/Legionof1 3h ago
Sadly his family was eaten by bears shortly after this.
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u/Ill_Tradition_4104 2h ago
Well, his family shouldn’t have been picking on that bald man then
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u/OldWar1111 3h ago
Actually, the student body government was kidnapped and the student store ransacked for all candy shortly after this.
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u/Final_Wallaby8705 3h ago
So impressed when young people act so mature and kind. This guy seems genuinely cool
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u/Al_Tilly_the_Bum 4h ago
Dude was raised right. Lucky for him, all the girls at the high school know it too
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u/ScaredOfWindow 3h ago
Reminds me of a guy I went to high school with. Best athlete in the school, tall, handsome, but also a genuinely nice guy who would stick up for everybody.
The best thing about it was that I noticed that other “popular” kids seemed to be influenced by it and, even though it may have been somewhat performative, also started trying to be like that.
That’s what the world needs. Leaders who are both strong and kind, and encourage others to do the same. Instead of punching down, help others climb up.
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u/Scooba_Mark 3h ago
I think you're right. Even if it is performative to start with, it's habit forming. And I'm sure they found real benefits in being good people once they started. Hopefully it stayed with them in mater life when no one was watching.
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u/Prudent-Thing4272 2h ago
And if you think about it, a lot of asshole behavior is performative too. Being kind or being cruel can become habits. Hate and love are like anything else, they don’t grow unless you feed it.
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u/Jblank86 2h ago
I was trying to convey a similar thought, but you said it way more succinctly than I did.
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u/bark-beetle 3h ago
Interesting that you mention that. All the "popular" kids at my high school were so nice. When I watched the movie "Mean Girls" it really brought me into reality that not all high schools are like that.
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u/NoConfusion9490 2h ago
80s movies had me thinking bullies would be straight up trying to murder me.
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u/Shmeves 2h ago
I graduated my HS after 2005 (not trying to give exact year), and my experience was dreadful. I had expensive items stolen from me (TI-84 calculators, my shoes), punched almost daily, called nicknames constantly, never really had a best friend or strong friend group, just some rejects like me but less so, and never got to go to any parties or homecoming dances etc, never celebrated my birthday outside a dinner with my immediate family. My senior year was the 'best' year there, kids finally started not treating me like shit but... it was horrible still. To this day I still have major social anxiety, still dont' have a best/close friend, still don't celebrate my birthday, still a loner.
And this was a very affluent school, in one of the richest counties in the country.
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u/JEFE_MAN 2h ago
I’m old. I was an 80s kid. Those movies were freaking documentaries!! Kids were SUPER freaking mean back then. And really would beat the crap out of you.
But this new generation, with kids like the guy in this video, seems to really have figured it out. Gives me crazy hope for the future!
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u/C9_Chadz 3h ago
My ex wife told me it was the same situation at her HS. Except the kids with developmental issues bullied each other and were kinda dicks to other people...
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u/evemeatay 3h ago
My high school was like this. The athletes also valued at minimum being decent students and wanted to get out of town so they worked hard in all respects and while there was plenty of age appropriate picking at things, outright bullying was never tolerated
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u/WeekendOkish 1h ago
Best athlete in the school, tall, handsome, but also a genuinely nice guy who would stick up for everybody.
I went to highschool with Mark Maye, Drake's dad. This was exactly what he was like, and that's exactly what happened. Sure, we nerds weren't invited to the good parties, but there was very little bullying. It was uncool to be an asshole.
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u/Jblank86 3h ago
Exactly this. Well rounded people absolutely influence others around them. Lots of people are stereotypically cool and still care about others. I get the performative part of it too. I chalk it up to a learning curve and people working to be something new without having the same foundation as the person they’re emulating. It can take a while to understand the why behind the actions.
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u/jlredding_91 4h ago
And that’s why he’s really the king. Smart young man.
Just kidding…seems to really be genuine and sincere.
🥹🥹🥹
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u/charlie2135 3h ago
Nice to see a good heart in this young man. May he go far and realize the best thing in life is to promote those that are passed up.
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3h ago
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u/crypticsilenc3 3h ago
This is true, and if not, at least you fought for what is right - a champion for the people. A moral leader, a true role model in today's society. We need many more role models like this for our youth.
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u/Awkward_Turnover_983 3h ago
Nah you're not kidding at all
Still cool though
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u/MntnMedia 3h ago
It's like that saying, I forget how it goes. Bit its something along the lines of when being nice is a way of life, not just a way to get a head.
That's this lad for sure.
Everyone will know who the king was, and will respect the new king. For sure! This is called a win win in my books.
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u/BlackwingF91 3h ago
Good leaders raise those under them or less fortunate up. They take care of others and help improve everyone
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u/SaintGrobian 3h ago
Absolutely lovely, but also a bit of a video game morality system choice. You are popular and successful, do you want to
A) cede the pretend crown to the nice unpopular runner up who it would mean the world to
Or
B) KEEP IT FOR YOURSELF 👑👑👑
This choice may affect your alignment
I'm glad he chose right, in any case.
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u/Legionof1 3h ago
There is basically no way to win... and win. The only way to win is to give up the crown.
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u/NixonsTapeRecorder 2h ago
Unpopular? From my own personal experience (we're talking back in the 1900s) there is no way that kid is unpopular.
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u/Oomeegoolies 1h ago
We had 3 kids with down syndrome at our school.
One was amazing. Played football for England disability teams, used to shoot hoops with me at lunch, genuinely all round positive guy. He was the year above me and I was sad when he left. Really cheered me up everyday, and was so so good.
I also had one in my form (registration class). And he was a dick. Just a genuine dick. All the teaching assistants he got absolutely hated it because he'd be a nightmare. In a few classes in the first couple of years at secondary you're not setted by ability (I think maybe History, Geography and something else) and you go with your form class.
He was a major disruption in all of them. Just a dick. And he knew it. And he got the attention, and until about half way through year 8 teachers just let him mostly get away with it. Until my geography teacher flipped and gave him red comment (basically a warning in your planner that the parent must sign to show they've seen it). He lost his shit. Absolute meltdown. But I tell you what, he was never a dick in geography again. Although he continued to be everywhere else.
I didn't know the other one very much, but I think he was just pretty ordinary.
I wish everyone was like Matthew was though, down syndrome or not. He was wicked. Used to go round school just high fiving everyone and really making everyones day. You'd be in a shit mood and he'd cheer you right up. I think he genuinely would have won like any award like this because he was so well liked.
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u/coolcalmaesop 4h ago
Kindness and empathy looks so damn good on everyone that wears it.
Dude knew he was a king and had the power to make another person feel powerful.
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u/Cj8490 4h ago
There’s still some good in this world Mr Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for
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u/FourEightNineOneOne 3h ago
That line always has, and always will, bring a happy tear to my eye
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u/SmurfsAreTasty 4h ago
His parents should be extremely proud. That kind of empathy and generosity is rare these days.
As a former special needs teacher, that made me cry. No one cared about the special-needs kids at the school I taught at. Things are changing.
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u/NoNipNicCage 3h ago edited 3h ago
At my high school, we couldn't get a best buddies chapter there so my friend and i started our own called Peer Pals. We helped put on a sensory safe homecoming every year and it was one of my favorite moments in high school
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u/EstablishmentLate532 2h ago
Thank you for your tremendous kindness towards those with special needs. Your comment describes something so truly kind and wonderful that it touched my heart almost as much as the video in the post. It makes me proud to live in a world with people like you. Thank you.
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u/stargazercmc 1h ago
As someone who picked my autistic kid up early last night from his first homecoming dance because it was “too loud” for him to stay, just know you’re doing good things in the world.
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u/jaemak06 3h ago
We have a student with Down syndrome at my school. Since TK the poor little guy can’t go anywhere with out kids shouting his name, and high fiving or fist bumping. The whole school absolutely adores him. Things are changing!
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u/Winter-Yogurt-4209 2h ago
I just graduated and same at my school. One of my classmates had Down syndrome and was the coolest guy. He was really tight with the basketball kids and jocks. everyone always wanted to hang out with him bc he was so funny and kind. I don’t think I ever saw him sit at a table that wasn’t full of his friends.
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u/Faintkay 3h ago
I’ve told this story before but my high school baseball team made me root hard for them. We had a special needs kid we called the gameboy kid. He walked around listening to the music from his gameboy games. Nice kid but kinda just did his own thing. He started getting bullied by the cholo kids. All 3 levels of the baseball team(60+ guys) confronted the bullies. After that the gameboy kid sat with them for the remainder of his 2 years at school. Was pretty awesome to see that.
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u/pitlovex23 3h ago
Special needs students are very accepted by their peers nowadays. I work with a cognitively impaired classroom and it’s beautiful seeing the “bad kid” students saying hi and giving fist bumps to my kids in the hall. Unfortunately there’s still some that will make mean comments but the good out way the bad by a landslide.
There’s a lot of concerns about this generation but they’re way more inclusive than any other
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u/station_agent 2h ago
Things are changing in a lot of parts of the country. Sadly, the corruption up top is disgusting. Stay the good path. Vote.
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u/laharmon 2h ago
I used to drive one of our special needs students to school every day and then make sure he got to his first class. Every time he got in my car he started whistling and pointing at the radio cuz the whistle song by juelz Santana was his favorite. So we listened to that every morning ❤️
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u/boges85 3h ago
I love that this act didn't come across as pitying, patronising or just for show. He treated the other young man with respect.
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u/IAmPandaRock 3h ago
That was probably the most impactful for me. He seemed so genuine, respectful and selfless. He didn't seem to just go through the motions or do it to make himself look good. Really nice to see.
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u/OnceMoreAndAgain 3h ago edited 3h ago
This situation has come up often enough on reddit posts that I remember spending a few minutes to think about it at some point a year or two ago. It's morally grey to me, but I decided it hinges on whether or not the recipient is happy or not with what's happening.
If the recipient is fully aware of the circumstances of what's happening, then I think it can make the recipient sad since they might recognize it as patronizing.
If the recipient is blissfully ignorant of the circumstances, or is aware and doesn't mind, and is happy with the outcome, then great. No one loses.
It seems difficult to predict if the recipient will be fully aware or not to what's going on. I guess you have to know that person pretty well to predict how they'll feel about it.
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u/MercuryBeach_ 2h ago
The way so carefully and deliberately placed the sash on and made sure it was straight got me hard 😭
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u/WildRabbitz 4h ago
The kids are alright.
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u/monoinyo 3h ago
My school voted a dude with downs into homecoming king as a joke... I think there's more empathy on the ground level these days.
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u/parkerkudrow 4h ago
Thanks now I’m crying 🥹😭
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u/SilverMcFly 4h ago
Same. Reddit done right. Now I need to go collect myself and get things done. If I reddit anymore today it's probably all downhill from here.
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u/john_san 4h ago
The next generation is not all lost. There is still hope but we (the adults in the room) must make sure there is a future for them. On Nov 3rd, do the next right thing.
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u/TerponadeTea 3h ago
I was raised in the "academics are everything" ethos of the 90s, and as much as I value my kids' intelligence, I am so glad that I realized early on in parenting what I truly wanted for them.
Man can I tell you how fast I stopped giving a shit about grades and how much more I give a shit about my kids being good people?
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u/tribetilidie 2h ago
Yep. At parent-teacher conferences, after the teachers go through all the academic stuff, and then seem to want to wrap up the conversation, I’m always like “Woah, woah, woah. Now, we’re gonna talk about your observations on what type of person my kid is”
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u/gloebe10 4h ago
I agree one-billion percent. It's time to start move on from these hateful thugs running the show.
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u/Backwardspellcaster 3h ago
as long as we can teach them empathy and caring for others
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u/evo311 3h ago
I have a 13 year old and she's more empathetic than any adult I know. I think the future is in good hands.
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u/sincerely-sarcastic 3h ago
All three of my boys, ages 12-16, are the first to stop and help someone that needs help. The future is definitely in good hands.
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u/enteringhope 3h ago
All the kids I know are great. They make me know the future is in good hands. We’re just too bombarded with the few loud ones on social media and in the news.
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u/SmartWonderWoman 3h ago edited 3h ago
Do the right thing and vote blue💙🩵💙
Edit: thanks for the award!
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u/MayorDepression 3h ago
EVEN if it means voting for the lesser of two evils. Too many people decide to forgoe the democratic process if there is not a candidate they agree with on all/most fronts. Unfortunately, in the two-party country of America, we must vote for the lesser of two evils. Maybe one day that will change (cough cough ranked choice voting) but that's not today.
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u/Fiorina_Fury 4h ago
Well done young man. I'm glad this selfless moment was captured for recognition. You're the type of people that make the world worth fighting for.
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u/Stunning_Juice9238 4h ago
As someone who works with kids I hope people read this - the kids are alright and they are better than most adults. It’s the adults that screw it up for them
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u/Fart_Morning 4h ago
Exactly! I work in a high school and the majority of my students are killing it at being human; their parents are often another story all together.
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u/MomoMarieAuthor 3h ago
Yes!! Kids are so much kinder now than when I was in school.
I'm a high school teacher, and I regularly see incredibly kind and natural interactions between our special needs students and the other students on campus.
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u/cwhitt5 3h ago
People shit on the younger generation a lot but I see hope with these young ones
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u/george_cant_standyah 3h ago
Saw a kid last night actively give up his seat on the train to a mom and daughter. Made my day.
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u/isitatomic 4h ago
Give dude's parents an award. Takes A LOT to be that mature as a boy in high school
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u/Squumpus 4h ago
Bro gets to win, give homie an experience, and escaped the rigamarole of pageantry. might actually be a genius
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u/antisocial_empath 3h ago
Now this is how a true king acts. Everyone take note. I’m about to be a parent of three boys and I call this “masculinity 2.0.” It’s kingly energy in all situations and facets of life. These men will help heal the world as well as the culture war between the sexes.
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u/ImpossibleKidd 2h ago
It’s how it should go. Dude stepped up big. It’s a memory for everyone now!
I say this, growing up just at the end of the era where the coming of age movies were still majorly stereotypically segregated, kids would still get bullied for a quick laugh, and social media just came into play with MySpace just after I graduated high school.
I talk on it, because I was a popular kid, dated the prettiest popular girl, lived the movie, but also didn’t fly for punk garbage, and I think there was a sense of respect from that, from all groups. I was someone you could go to, to share feelings, when something like that was never seen cool. I didn’t pass judgement, and I also was never afraid to take a stand toward a buddy when they were being a punk toward someone else. Never sat right with me, so I’d speak up. Wasn’t afraid to, when others were.
I guess my point is. All it takes is someone with some standing amongst their peers, to make the right move. More people should do it. It changes so many lives’ outlooks, for the rest of their lives. They’re monumental moments in time for some.
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u/mrdiggame 4h ago
True kings know how to please the kingdom. Everyone applauded louder when he gave the crown and title the other kid. True leaders don't need titles.
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u/MiserableExample388 3h ago edited 2h ago
You are a wonderful person, bud! Stay that way as you get older. Even when others try to make you as miserable as they are.
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u/FadingRockStar 1h ago
I will always believe that there are more good people than bad in this world. This right here.
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u/HH_Creations 3h ago
Its funny cuz media often demonized "popular" people
But usually to be popular, you are likable
In my experience, many popular people are kind, social, and graceful
Now give them power....ehhh that can be a toss up but thats with ANYONE
I have poor social skills, but most "popular" people were actually very kind to me cuz they saw me as genuine
It was people who felt....threatened? That were ugly
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u/Issac-Cox-Daley 2h ago
The most popular guy in my class was extremely nice to everyone, won valedictorian, gave a hilarious speech at grad, and went on to be valedictorian at our local University too. He works in sports media which was his dream job, has an incredibly hot wife who was his high school sweetheart and cute kids. I have nothing but nice things to say about the guy and I wish him all the best and his families future.
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u/brakenbonez 2h ago
Yeah the popular kids in my schools were very rarely the bullies. There also weren't anywhere near as many bullies in the schools I went to as the media portrays. But not every school is the same so maybe I just got lucky.
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u/JimiusRostock 2h ago
My kid is very sensitive and caring. I was scared he would be bullied for sure. Turns out, he's the most popular kid in class.
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u/Toymachinesb7 2h ago
I was close with the “popular” kids in my high school and we all volunteered for the special ed field days and stuff. It was cool to be kind. People who are always asshole are just not fun to be around.
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u/muscularsharpie 2h ago
I was in wrestling with "the popular guys," and they were so approachable, friendly. It wasn't a class system, it was a culture type of community. If you wanted to sit with us at lunch and chill, heck yeah.
We went to different clubs, sport events, community outreaches. Coaches encouraged those heavily. I'm 37, and those positive experiences still stick with me. Sports can just be about sports, but if have a leadership program that's strong, you can be effective in your community of peers.
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u/baldycoot 1h ago
Good people get votes from good people. I’d say this video says as much about the school as it does both the runner up and the winner.
Everyone at that place is a winner.
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u/Strange-Painting6257 4h ago
Those girls crying in the background are all me lol
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u/FunctionalBoredom 4h ago
Allowing someone else to share in and create their own core memory is truly what it is all about. That young man will go on to do great things with that attitude.
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u/ChavoDemierda 4h ago
What a good kid. If I was his dad and saw this, I'd be a sobbing mess and proud as any dad could be.
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u/Ponder_wisely 4h ago
Young man who came second showed class by shaking hands. Young man who came first showed class by handing the award over.
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u/Billy-Jack74 3h ago
He’s a real leader and you can see it. He’s not performative, dude is solid as a rock.
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u/rachsteef 3h ago
amazing guy - that much is clear… now, does that highschooler have a face tattoo?? damn
in the end it could just be makeup (and none of us will know which of those this is) so there’s actually no use me having commented this. Have a great day!
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u/Remarkable_Command91 3h ago
Well it appears to be a pep rally… could it be face paint by chance?
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u/Rdbjiy53wsvjo7 3h ago
Might be a temporary tattoo, our high school cheerleaders wear them all the time at games. My daughters are in competitive gymnastics and they have started to become popular for state meets.
And for some reason, it's always on their face.
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u/seeyatellite 3h ago
Hell yeah, dude. Those cheers and smiles, too. I'm proud of the heart in both that guy and the rest of those students.
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u/billieboop 3h ago
The right person was chosen, proud of him, but also everyone else at that school who voted and cheered on.
This is the future we all want for them, we all need to step up and protect them and pave a better way for them to thrive
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u/Blacklight099 2h ago
Getting crowned king and proving to the entire room why you were the right choice in the space of 2 minutes. What a champ.
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u/BolOfSpaghettios 3h ago edited 3h ago
Our future gens are getting a lot of shit. Is it deserved? No. Why? If we had the tech available when we were kids as they have now, we'd come out fucked up. We also have to keep in mind that all this is learned behavior. If you're an adult, and you have younger family members around you, make sure you're doing things that emotionally support them.
I'm 44, and it took me a while to figure out I'm fucked up and carry a lot of trauma. I thought I was a good person, but the instances when I was a shit person was a learned behavior. I'm finally going to therapy and talking to someone who will not judge me as weak, or not scowl at me for crying.
We all need a true judgement free zone. Lift up others and break cycles.
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u/Samason560 4h ago
THAT'S why he was voted homecoming king in the first place, cause he had this kind of heart.
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u/Mysterious-Draw2510 3h ago
Parents doing an outstanding job with that young man. Thank god the world still has man like him growing up in it.
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u/FriendlyTomorrow4192 3h ago
Oh when the little one started crying and he hugged the other student....awe...what a good man that young boy is...
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u/CarpenterAndSuch 3h ago
I’m hungover as fuck and this made me cry. Pair of legends, these two lads.
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u/FlatwormFlimsy711 1h ago
They voted for the right king because that is king behavior. Glad he could appreciate his win and share the win with someone else who wanted it just as much. We need more men supporting men and growing as gentlemen in this world. 😊🩷
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u/Accomplished-Tax-211 3h ago
This is awesome. Where were these kind kids when I was in school? I’m a different person now but I’m ashamed to say this young man could have taught me and my 1980s friends a lesson on how to treat others. Well done, kid. Well done.
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u/beattysgirl 3h ago
Tbh this is why the first guy was voted king in my mind. Sure it’s usually a popular and attractive person but this kid clearly has a heart of gold
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