Students Bring Their Struggling Classmate Presents On His Birthday

Apr 10, 2021

High school is often a hard time for young adults. Students have to contend with college applications, their shifting social lives and the growing pains that come along with this transitional period in one’s life. With that said, some teens certainly have it harder than others.

At just 16 years old, Idaho Falls, Idaho, resident Dylan Guilmette has gone through a lot. Not only did Dylan lose his mother when he was a baby, but his stepmother also passed away. In the wake of his mother’s death, Dylan lives in a small trailer alone with his father, Joe Guilmette. Money is tight at the Guilmette residence, too. Dylan wears the same pair of clothes every day and showers just once a week to help his dad save money. On top of all that, Dylan has to deal with bullies at school who take his possessions.

In spite of Dylan’s circumstances, his peers say that he is almost always super energetic and has a smile on his face no matter what’s going on in his personal life. That’s why Dylan’s fellow students at Thunder Ridge High School got together to make this young man’s day back in Feb. 2020. Since his 16th birthday was coming up on Feb. 27, that proved to be the perfect occasion to give Dylan something special.

Thunder Ridge basketball coach Lee Toldson, who met Dylan during a fitness class on campus, organized a group of students and gathered a whole slew of gifts that they packed into a brand new Adidas backpack.

The gift bag included a sports water bottle, new clothing and a pair of brand new football gloves.

“He always wears his football gloves and brings his football around everywhere,” Dylan’s friend Porter Harris said in an interview with USA Today. “And the reason we got him new football gloves is because some kids stole them from him and flushed them down the toilet, so we bought him some new expensive gloves to make up for that.”

Harris got to know Dylan around basketball season at school. Once he and his peers realized everything the young man had gone through, they started to drive him home and take him out to lunch whenever possible.

“I just think it’s super crazy that someone should go through something like he’s been through and still have a positive attitude … It just tells you a lot about his character,” Harris said. “It tells you a lot about him — just how brave he is and just how good of a kid he is.”

When Harris, Coach Toldson and a group of Dylan’s friends got together to give him his 16th birthday gift, Dylan dropped to his knees in gratitude, as the video below shows.

Harris filmed Dylan’s reaction and uploaded it to his social media accounts, where it soon went viral. On Twitter, Harris’ video has over 100,000 views. In fact, Harris’ video got so big that ESPN picked it up, which got it to pro football player Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks.

“This is so awesome!” Lockett wrote along with a retweet of ESPN’s video. “Can someone help me find this guys page or a way to contact him! Please and thank you!”

According to NBC News, Lockett was able to get Dylan’s details from Harris and that Lockett would be sending “something special.”

“I just want to tell him that he’s a good football player,” Dylan told NBC News in response to Lockett’s care package. “He reaches out to everybody… For me, I’ll do the same thing. I’ll hold the door; I’ll say 'hi' to people. Because every single day, I’m always putting smiles on people’s faces.”

Dylan’s happiness and kindness are contagious if the YouTube comments section of the below video section is any indication. Dozens of viewers both took time to thank the students who helped make Dylan’s day as well as commending the birthday boy himself.

“This was so beyond sweet,” the video’s top comment reads. “I pray things get better for him and his dad, and those kids are continually blessed, and continue to be a blessing to many more.”

“Oh man this is the best video I’ve seen in (a while),” Vicky Dee added. “You guys are true human beings and really set the perfect example of what it means to be a friend. It’s appalling to think that in this country where so many have more (than) they need, this father and son could struggle so hard.”

As for Dylan’s advice for those who have heard about his story, the young man told NBC News, “Don’t bully people, just treat people like you want to be treated … And if it happens, just go to someone you care about.”

What do you think about Dylan’s story? Have you ever met someone who, no matter their circumstances, spreads positivity? Let us know — and pass this story on to others.