22-year-old Cayla Chandara has always wanted to pursue her dreams of graduating from college, but things weren’t easy for her and she ended up working two jobs just to be able to save enough money to attend school and make ends meet.
She lived in Santa Rosa, California, but moved places to Waikiki, Hawaii where she worked as a waitress at a Noi Tai Cusine and a Cheesecake Factory.
One day, an Australian couple visited Noi Tai Cusine and Chandara engaged with them in a friendly conversation, but little did she know that the encounter would change her life forever.
Chandara shared with them her life story and told them how much she wanted to pursue a career in business and graduate from school. It was obvious the customers were very polite and enjoyed speaking to Chandara so when the time came for them to pay the bill, they left a very generous tip. Along with the $200 they had to pay, they gave Chandara additional $400 which was double their bill.
“I was then at a loss for words and all I wanted to do was hug them,” Chandara told CBS News.
Chandara was so grateful that she felt like she should thank those kind strangers again. So, after her night shift was over, she stopped by the hotel they told her they were staying at.
“I genuinely wanted to say thank you,” Chandara said. “I sent a thank you letter saying how much it meant to me.”
She left the letter at the hotel’s front desk and never expected to see the couple again. But, the next day, they returned at Chandara’s restaurant and told her something that left her completely speechless. They were willing to give her $10,000 dollars to pay for her student loans and get back to school.
She just couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I initially told them I couldn’t take that offer, but they insisted that it would be just as great for them to do it for me,” Chandara said.
That meant Chandara could finally fulfill her dreams. That was the best thing someone has ever done for her and she felt like she had to repay for this huge kindness.
“They told me the best way to thank them is to be my best possible self, dream big and strive for my goals,” Chandara said.
The couple wanted to remain anonymous, but their action and how they changed Chandara’s life is widely spread.
“They have truly changed my life, not only financially but in the way I look at things. They are the most beautiful and kind-hearted people I’ve come across and I really look up to them and I can’t wait until they watch me graduate,” Chandara said.
Chandara’s story is just a proof that there are still people out there who truly believe that kindness is what moves this world around. And we are so glad they are here to restore our faith in humanity.
“Always be genuine. You will get it right back. Good things happen,” Chandara said.