Do you have any tissues near you? Great! Before watching this emotionally-charged surprise graduation announcement, grab a bunch of those — because you're probably going to need them.
24-year-old Hanss Mujica of Texas says that the journey to the big moment started in disappointment. After telling his parents that he'd been suspended from college for his grades, Hanss said, "Their face was filled with utter disappointment and sadness. The last time I saw that face was when they found out my older brother passed away. I told myself that I would never do anything to see that look in their face."
The Facebook story detailing his road to graduating is an honest, heartwarming rollercoaster. He admits that he had a 1.47 GPA when he was finally suspended and that his lackluster grades cost him his scholarship. He was then forced to take loans and work scaffolding jobs to pay for his classes.
And all the while, he kept his education a secret from his family. "I knew I wanted to surprise my parents since I graduated high school, but my mistakes delayed that. Once the day came, I was very relieved. They thought they were posing for a family photo shoot for a project… little did they know it was my graduation announcement."
"I spent six years in and out of the university but seeing the reactions on their faces was worth every sleepless night," Mujica continues. "It was such a wonderful feeling seeing their reaction. Inside the envelope was the two invitation tickets for my graduation… the letter that is seen on the video is me expressing my appreciation towards them. I've learned that adversity is something that will somehow manifest itself one way or another in our lives, but it is how we persevere through it all that defines our character."
We're so happy for Hanss and his family!
Peep the NSFW (not safe for weepers) video below if you're okay with the people nearby seeing you cry — good thing you grabbed those tissues, right? Note: The big, emotional reveal happens around 4:45.
