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The Grade That Saved A Life: A Professor's Unforgettable Act Of Kindness

June 11, 2025

A woman recently shared a powerful story on Reddit about a moment of quiet compassion that ended up saving her life.

Her post, titled "Professor gave me an A and it saved my life. 2.5 years later, I received this email from him," has deeply moved thousands.

She explained that she had always been a straight-A student, but during one semester, her life took a devastating turn. Trapped in an abusive relationship, she became too afraid to leave her dorm room. Her mental health crumbled as she isolated from friends and tried to navigate the legal system alone, working to obtain a restraining order against her ex. She stopped attending classes, and even the subject she once loved most slipped through her fingers—until one day, she mustered the strength to return.

With red eyes and an apology ready, she arrived at her favorite class expecting consequences. Instead, her professor stepped outside with her and offered something far more meaningful: the first hug she’d had in weeks.

In that moment, she opened up about everything she was going through. Her professor listened without judgment. He told her that she was more important than her grades and encouraged her to take care of herself first. He even said she could finish the class online, and to call him if she needed help.

Eventually, the trauma led her to drop out of college, and she never took the final exam for his class. But when grades came out, she was stunned—he gave her an A. That single act, she said, “was my lifeline that year.”

Years later, she reached out to thank him. In her email to him, she wrote:

"When I opened my report card and saw an A in your class, I just sobbed. You showed me compassion and kindness when I did nothing to deserve it, and I appreciated that A more than you'll ever know. I know it's just a grade but it gave me hope to know someone still believed in me. It gave me something to be happy about - something to live for. I never got a chance to thank you for that."

Months passed before he responded, but when he did, his email left just as powerful a mark as his kindness had years earlier.

Screenshot of the email | Think-Library9577 on Reddit

Screenshot of the email | Think-Library9577 on Reddit

In the message, he explained why it took him time to reply, admitting that her email overwhelmed him. He reflected on how her story had affected him deeply and said, “You were right: I was seeing you.”

Though he’s not religious, he quoted a saying of Jesus that resonates with him: “Make your brother’s sorrow your own.” He even shared that he had once been through an abusive relationship himself—making her pain feel even more personal to him.

He clarified that giving her an A wasn’t just a kind gesture—it was about justice. He remembered her clearly as a dedicated, bright student who always sat near the front and actively participated. “What kind of miserable, short-sighted, hypocritical idiot would I be,” he wrote, “if I claim to support women, but then penalize this student without any regard for the hell she is living?”

To him, it wasn’t just about grades. It was about seeing a person who was fighting to survive and giving her the grace she deserved when everything else was falling apart.

He closed his message with words of encouragement, reminding her that her value doesn’t depend on milestones or timelines.

Screenshot of the email | Think-Library9577

It’s a reminder that the right act of compassion, offered at the right time, can become a turning point in someone’s life.