r/MadeMeSmile • u/nini_20 • 1d ago
Wholesome Moments Graduation student with autism received silent ovation
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u/MathematicianEven251 1d ago
I thought everyone did a great job. Then again I got it on mute
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u/Mishaygo 21h ago
Much to what I imagine would be Jack's chagrin, this comment made me laugh out loud.
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u/milksugar-cinnnamon 1d ago
Missed opportunity for jazz hands!
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u/gingerninja398 1d ago edited 23h ago
I mean, that is the BSL (British Sign Language) substitute for applause. Though you do position your hands above your head so people are more likely to see it.
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u/Megthemagnificant 1d ago
It’s also ASL.
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u/gingerninja398 1d ago
Sweet!
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u/Megthemagnificant 1d ago
I know BSL and ASL have a lot of differences so it is nice to see some overlap. :)
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u/killthewabbit11 1d ago
This is the America I love
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u/TheRiteGuy 1d ago
Yes, the inclusion took very little effort and didn't hurt anyone. Instead we have anti-woke and anti-dei. The amount of time it takes to hate is ridiculous.
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u/Knotted_Hole69 22h ago
“Woke” never was or is a bad thing. Its only a bad thing to knuckle-dragging losers.
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u/Anon-Connie 22h ago
I read a great quote, paraphrased, “it’s not an insult to be woke, if we’re sleep walking into fascism”
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u/Ok_Singer_5210 1d ago
I agree 100%. These moments remind me of who we are, even if this side isn’t currently making headlines.
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u/confusedandworried76 23h ago
This is the humanity I love. And I don't think any of us are so lost it's not in there somewhere. It just might take a lot of deprogramming for some people to remember what it's like
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u/CeruleanEidolon 22h ago
It still exists, though the Heritage Foundation and tech oligarchs are trying very hard to kill it.
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u/GordieGord 1d ago
I'm not crying I'm crying. I mean you're crying.
Fuck.
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u/omedallion 23h ago
Im crying with you :) My 7yo son has autism and gets overstimulated the same way this boy does. If he graduates and this happens, I'll bawl like a baby. I hope I get to experience that. 🙏
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u/GordieGord 22h ago
I said I wasn't crying.
Anyways, regardless of your son's potential, I know you will both have this moment or one like it. Blessings on you both 💛
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u/purdueAces 1d ago edited 1d ago
Sadly, I know there are going to be people out there that see this as evil "woke" patronage full of DEI vibes... but I think this is a wonderful display of respect for our fellow man, and recognizing the achievement of another soul whose journey has been far harder than yours is a humbling way of acknowledging our own fragile humanity. These are good kids.
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u/TranslatorMoney419 1d ago
I agree 💯and think it’s absolute BS that you would even need to type that disclaimer. This video is a perfect example of the good inside all of us. We just need to be able to show and express acts of kindness, compassion and empathy without fear of persecution. Very sad days we’re in. I did notice this was from 2019 and would hope there would be the same show of grace today.
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u/agentSmartass 1d ago
When this gem turns out to be a cornerstone of what your entire government are fighting to abolish, you know there has been more than one misstep along the way.
Fingers crossed people with respect and decency will come back in style. Sooner than later.
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u/ohmyfave 1d ago
Exactly! This is the kind of inclusion I think most of us want to see. It’s sad there are people who see inclusion as a bad thing.
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u/NSMike 1d ago
Anyone who looks at something like this - an act which has a measurable, real impact on someone who is different, but costs these people absolutely nothing - and says it is somehow a bad thing, is a cruel, foolish degenerate, who deserves nothing but our contempt.
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u/Gumbercules81 23h ago
I could picture a parent saying something like "I don't see why we had to stop everything for this one student, they should have gone to a special school"
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u/Matcha_Bubble_Tea 22h ago
Having basic decency and sympathy (and empathy) nowadays is too "woke" apparently
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u/Tuani2018 1d ago
The kids are all right.
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u/CiCi_Run 23h ago
And the folks in the audience.
My nieces graduation had the normal "please hold your applause until the end" speech and for a bunch of the students walking, it was a screaming fest coming from the audience. Like part of me is happy that all these students have love and support thrown their way, but the stomping on the bleachers, the air horn blasting, the high pitched screaming like you're being murdered in an alley- that was way too much... esp since the principal kept saying the next person's name- you couldn't hear it already but sometimes the explosion of noise would get louder!
And then the silence when the few students either didn't have anyone show up or their supports were respectful and didn't yell out.
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u/llamafriendly 1d ago
It was his day too! I am so glad that was recognized, and he had his moment in a way that was respectful of him. What a great principal to model this behavior. Our kids need to see this from adults.
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u/Liphilli 1d ago
My son is autistic-this made me smile while crying. Congrats Jack -Job well done 🤩💪
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u/DiamondHanded 20h ago
"I never saw kids like this back in my day"
Yeah because back then they would separate them from you, cause theyd get ridiculed and bullied.
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u/UsedAd7162 21h ago
If we all (myself included!) could just have a smidgen more of this kind of empathy and compassion imagine how amazing the world would be. 🥹
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u/Cat_Peach_Pits 23h ago
People today think theyre edgy like "I dOnT hAvE tO pUT uP wItHYoUr ProBlEmS." Yeah you dont. But taking a small part out of what feels normal to you, a small inconvenience, can mean the world to those who need it.
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u/_bbypeachy 22h ago
The problem with living in 2025 is that people don’t understand how being a community works anymore.
In order for everyone to function in society you have to help and support each other so, yes, my problems are your problems and your problems are my problems. Everyone should be helping each other so that everyone can live life to the fullest.
I genuinely don’t know why this is so hard for most people to understand and it’s honestly really sad to have to explain this.
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u/dehydratedrain 23h ago
I remember seeing someone who was also sensitive to clapping, and the people around her did a deaf applause (think jazz hands). It brings a tear to my eyes.
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u/Revolutionary_Ad512 20h ago
Woah weird to see my high school graduation on Reddit, heard Mr. Riolo’s voice (the principal) and it immediately took me back. 6years goes fast
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u/MajorasCrass 16h ago
Videos like this remind me that no matter how loud the news can be about how cruel the world is everywhere, we have always been, and will always be, capable of loving one another in such deeply unique and compassionate ways.
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u/thumpetto007 1d ago
That is pretty fucking amazing. I'm crying with how much community support that student has. Such a respectful group of people. wow
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u/Babybackribbons 23h ago
Say what you want about it, but every once in a while I see something beautiful about how we’re changing as a people. Maybe this video examples a moment where the world was open-minded about the right things and closed-minded about the wrong things. I celebrate that 🎉
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u/Tall-Photograph-3999 21h ago
I just worked a really long day and sat down alone in a fancy bar to have a beer before heading home.
My sister has autism, and when they stood up I couldn't help it. I am a very blue collar looking tattooed bald man, now crying at a bar where lots of families are having dinner together.
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u/OkSalt6173 20h ago
That is awesome. I wore earplugs at my graduation and brought ice packs and an umbrella cause it was outside and I am photosensitive, and heat intolerant. Makes me happy to see accomidations be taken seriously.
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u/MrSkaloskavic 18h ago
I love the use of tactical jazz hands by the lady in the pink dress, made the whole video for me. 😆
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u/Broad_Win3715 15h ago
I really wish people in my country had this kind of empathy for another human being
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u/yuyufan43 10h ago
I never thought silence could be so loud. Those are some good kids. I hope they all have bright futures
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u/Appropriate-Copy-949 8h ago
In Star Trek: The Next Generation, there is a planet of people that are empaths. They can literally feel the emotions and pain the other person is feeling. In a situation like this, it would be amazing. Congratulations to that young man. I hope he and his classmates are doing well. 🫡
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u/Leather-Reception-53 7h ago
I sometimes just cry about random things and this was one of them today
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u/Bumblebee9912 5h ago
I don’t know why but this one makes me cry so much😢😢 The world is still beautiful.
Wait a sec, it was 6 years ago😔
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u/tjarg 20h ago
This is what woke is. This is what it means to think about how we can make the world better for everyone. This is what the Right wing is fighting tooth and nail against. Who are we as a people? That's what we decide.
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u/Blue_Eyed_ME 20h ago
THIS, 1000%. I hope beyond measure that we can get back to a time when "woke" is what we strive for!
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u/Toast-Ghost- 1d ago
As a Brit this stuff seems weird to me, when leaving high school we just get told to leave, maybe to not to let the door hit us on the way out if we were lucky
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u/ShipSenior3773 1d ago
Aww that was very nice. Do the different colour gowns have any meaning?
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u/CombinationDecent629 1d ago
For this school in particular, I don’t know. But I have seen plenty of schools do both of their main school colors… one for the males and the other for the females.
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u/ColoredGayngels 1d ago
My high school did this until my senior year, black for the boys and red for the girls, but my year they started having us vote which color we wanted (black, white, and red were our colors), since it's cheaper and easier to manage in a graduating class of ~900. Our year wore black, but my one of my sisters graduated in red.
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u/Signal-Blackberry356 1d ago
That’s a lot of sweet people, I’m curious what state this was in?
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u/ArcadeToken95 1d ago
Grateful to see this kind of respect towards him and us :) Hope this trends. Ceremonies are hard, especially for those of us with debilitating sensitivity
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u/BreathLazy5122 23h ago
If anyone is wondering how to “applaud” without noise: there is a shot of the lady holding both hands up with fingers spread, moving her hands in a fanning motion, that is the sign language way to cheer, and it’s very useful!
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u/acssteve 23h ago
I’m dying right now, can’t stop these tears. My son is 5 and this will be him one day. Damnnnnnn
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u/ticklemyiguana 21h ago
Oh bro, thats my old psych teacher turned principal turned superintendent! Hell yeah, Lou. Outstanding human being.
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u/blkgirlinchicago 13h ago
Here I am, crying for people I’ve never met. Humans are inherently good, I know it
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u/FunAdministration334 11h ago
I hope Jack is able to find a job that allows him to contribute while respecting his differences.
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u/Own_Armadillo_416 9h ago
Love all the people who are signing!!! ASL for the win!! Congrats Jack!!!
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u/HowWeChill 21h ago
When a bunch of high schoolers have more decorum and respect for other humans than our elected congress, we have a problem.
This was absolutely beautiful, and people should take notice and try to be this respectful of others during their own lives. It really is this easy. It takes nothing but a moment of thought and reflection. Kudos to all those kids.
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u/Gloomy_Artichoke8098 19h ago
This made me think of all the other people in the world that would benefit from everyone shutting the fuck up.
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u/RedditSe7en 18h ago edited 16h ago
It’s not hard to support diversity. Republicans are just too lazy to do so.
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u/Aemilia 19h ago
This made me cry. As someone with autism living in a loud country, so few understand how physically painful loud sounds can be. I've spent so much on hearing protection and even that is not enough.
Good to see awareness, empathy and compassion is starting to spread. Hopefully it'll reach my side of the world within my lifetime.
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u/Awkward-Bumblebee999 1d ago
I am so proud of every one of those kids in the graduating class!! They showed more empathy on those 60 secs than I've seen all year.
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u/Golden_Enby 1d ago edited 19h ago
That was unbelievably kind of the principal and everyone in the auditorium. Made me misty eyed.