A manager of a deli is taking the prospect of paying kids for their good grades in the most heartwarming way ever. As a child, you may have experienced the joy of being rewarded for your hard work. Maybe it was money, treats, or just a pat on the back and encouragement from a loved one. On Staten Island, one manager feels that this encouragement is incredibly important for any child.
At Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery, Wail Alselwi is being praised on TikTok for always motivating kids to be their best selves, especially when it comes to their focus in school. In a video, he shows his love and support in action to Maleek, a fourth grader. They came all the way to Staten Island from Pennsylvania, report card in hand. He wanted to show off his report card to Wail Alselwi!
Wail Alselwi proceeds to hype up the fourth grader and proclaims, “Am I seeing this, Maleek? 96, 100, 100, 100, 97, 93, 99! You smart, man.” As Maleek proudly smiles on, Wail hands him a $100 bill and tells him to grab anything he wants from the store. Maleek used his money for a loaf of bread, eggs, rice, and a few snacks after some encouragement from Wail. He goes on to tell Maleek, “Listen, you deserve this. You did good in school.”
Maleek’s mother saw the post on social media and commented, “That’s my son! It’s not about the snack for me, it’s about making sure he knows someone out here is proud of him. #SingleMomRaisingEducatedBoys.” Other commenters said, “Congratulations Maleek. A stranger is so proud of you.” Another was elated. “Sir, I’m sitting here in suburban Philly sobbing. Thank you so much for treating those babies like the little stars they are.”
Wail Alselwi has some assistance from a community that sticks together for the children. He has a GoFundMe account called the “Grades for Grabs” program, which aims at being a “movement dedicated to rewarding students for their hard work with snacks and cash prizes for good grades!” To him, it’s meant to be positive reinforcement. Kids are encouraged to focus on an important aspect of their young lives.
Most importantly, a community coming together because of Wail’s efforts is exactly what so many children need to succeed. It truly does take encouragement from the right people to show kids that they can excel when they put their minds toward anything. If you need a dose of good feels, Wail Alselwi’s TikTok, islandock1, is full of kids getting rewarded for their hard work!
