For many children throughout the world, getting their yearbook signed is an enjoyable end-of-year ritual that’s remembered forever.
However, for Brody Ridder, 12, the signing of his yearbook didn’t go as planned.
When this sixth grader from Westminster in Colorado was picked up from school by his mom, she saw that the boy wasn’t cheerful as usual.
She then remembered getting an email about the school yearbooks being delivered that day. So, she asked Brody if he found friends who signed his yearbook.
This is when the boy started crying.
Blank Pages on Brody Ridder’s Yearbook
Only two teachers signed Brody’s yearbook and the rest of the pages were blank. Many of his peers didn’t want to sign his yearbook. Some friends did sign their names but without any messages.
His mom Cassandra said how there wasn’t anything about his fun, smart, and awesome personality.
The boy signed his yearbook himself and wrote a heartbreaking message reading “I hope you make some more friends”.
His mom was devastated so she shared photos of the empty yearbook on a page on Facebook for parents from the school. She captioned the photo:
“My poor son. Doesn’t seem like things are getting any better. 2 teachers and a total of 2 students wrote in his yearbook. Despite Brody asking all kinds of kids to sign it. So Brody took it upon himself to write to himself. My heart is shattered. Teach your kids kindness.”
Brody is a boy who’s interested in dinosaurs, fencing, and chess; however, he was often misunderstood by his peers who couldn’t relate to his interest, according to his mom.
He came home and often told the family how his classmates made fun of his ears sticking out and his thin figure.
Brody often ate alone and plays alone at school.
Things Change after Cassandra’s Emotional Facebook Message
Thanks to his mom’s message on Facebook, the boy may not be alone anymore.
A day after the emotional message, Cassandra received a text message from Brody which read “Facebook this” and he sent her photos of his yearbook full of amazing messages.
After Cassandra’s message, the older children from the school visited Brody. His yearbook was full of kids from junior high and high school. They wrote wonderful messages like “you are so loved, don’t listen to kids who tell you different” and “you matter”.
What’s more, many of them left their phones so that Brody reaches out to them if he wants to.
For Brody, this was the best day ever, and suddenly, all those kids who didn’t want to sign his yearbook waited in line to do it. Brody is now excited about seventh grade and enjoying his school days with his new friends!
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