Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony Held Outdoors
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A heartwarming story has emerged about a 6-year-old boy who missed his kindergarten graduation to attend a family wedding and received a surprise celebration on the plane.
On the 21st (local time), according to foreign media including Good Morning America (GMA), a special event took place on a flight from Orlando, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was a celebration for Xavier Joel's kindergarten graduation, which he could not attend because he had to attend his cousin's wedding.
Joel's mother, Rivas, said, "After my son was confirmed as a groomsman for his cousin's wedding, the kindergarten graduation date was announced. When I found out the graduation ceremony was on the same day as the wedding, my heart shattered. I called the school to see if the date could be changed, but they said it was not possible."
Determined to make up for missing her son's graduation, Rivas packed a graduation gown and cap and decided to go to Puerto Rico. The flight attendants learned about Joel's story, and one of them came up with the idea to hold a graduation ceremony for Joel during the flight.
Xavier Joel is being congratulated on his kindergarten graduation on the airplane. [Image source=TikTok]
Frontier Airlines held a special graduation ceremony for Joel 30 minutes before the plane landed. The flight attendant announced over the intercom, "He missed his graduation today. Since he chose to fly with Frontier instead of attending the ceremony, we are going to hold a graduation ceremony for him on board." Joel walked to the front of the plane wearing a red graduation cap and gown, and passengers applauded and cheered for him. Frontier is also reported to have given Joel a gift to commemorate his kindergarten graduation.
Rivas expressed her gratitude, saying, "I was overwhelmed with emotion. Such a kind gesture was truly unexpected." She added, "As a single mom doing my best to ensure my son has a joyful and unforgettable childhood, I know how stressful it is when things don’t go as planned, like his graduation. But as a mother, I don’t show frustration or discouragement. That’s parenting." She emphasized, "If you smile bravely and make new plans, everything will work out as it should."
Joel’s special graduation video was shared on TikTok and has since garnered over 2.2 million views and more than 3,500 comments, becoming a hot topic. Local netizens responded with comments such as "This is touching," "It will be an unforgettable memory for the child," "Why am I crying watching this video?" and "Happiness is contagious. Thanks to the child, I am happy too."
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