12/13/2025
A Florida elementary school student just taught the internet a lesson in school spirit, creativity, and kindness — without even trying.
It was “College Colors Day,” and this young boy had one dream: represent the University of Tennessee. There was just one problem — he didn’t own any official UT merch.
So instead of giving up, he got creative.
Using nothing but paper, a pen, and pure determination, he hand-drew the “U.T.” logo, pinned it onto an orange T-shirt, and proudly made his own University of Tennessee shirt.
His teacher, Laura Snyder from Altamonte Elementary, was blown away. She shared on Facebook how impressed she was that he went the extra mile to be part of the celebration — designing his own label and wearing it with pride.
That morning, he walked into school glowing. He couldn’t wait to show his teacher what he had made. You could feel his excitement.
But then lunchtime came.
A few students at a nearby table — who weren’t even participating in College Colors Day — started making fun of his homemade shirt. The words hit hard. By midday, the same boy who walked in beaming was in tears, crushed that his effort and love for his team had been mocked instead of celebrated.
His teacher’s post quickly spread, not just because of the shirt — but because of what it represents.
A child who didn’t have much. A child who still showed up. A child who tried.
This isn’t just a story about a T-shirt.
It’s a reminder: creativity deserves encouragement, not cruelty — especially when it comes from a child’s heart.
Let’s do better. ❤️