Some days you just need to run into the grocery store to pick up something quick. You may have just been at the gym, home with sick children, or maybe just getting off from work. When this man decided to pick up a few things after work in Washington State he never gave it a second thought until…
After a few minutes, he noticed a little girl staring at him. Andy Ross was legitimately dirty after a long day’s work in the woods, he knew it but didn’t give it too much thought. Now standing in line the little girl was still staring.
The mom whispered to her daughter, “That’s why you need to stay in school.”
Obviously she was saying this to her daughter assuming Andy was a failure based on his looks.
Andy wasn’t letting this slide if for no other reason then to let that little girl know the truth and educate her with his story. He confronted the mom and totally left her speechless with her preconceived ideas of him being a loser.
The he posted this message on Facebook, what a powerful and surprising post.
“So I had a very interesting ‘educational’ conversation with a woman and her daughter today. As I entered the store before I got home, a little girl kept staring at me. Which is fine. I know that kids are curious when they see someone, especially as dirty as I was.
They ended up in front of me as I was checking out. Little girl still staring, her mother told her to stop staring. As they finished and headed towards the door, I hear her mom say quietly to the little girl, ‘That is why you need to stay in school.’ I figured this was a great time to educate this mother and her 7/8-year-old daughter. The following is our conversation:’
“First, I happen to be a very educated dirty man. I not only have a high school diploma, I also have a college degree and many medical certifications.
So assuming that I am uneducated because of my appearance is actually quite ignorant in itself.”
“Secondly, if you are telling your daughter to stay in school because I have tattoos up and down my arms, that will actually suppress her creativity and potentially hinder her imagination as she develops.
Again, contradictory to your point ma’am. I am proud of my tattoos and artwork that Forrest Bateman put on my body. It’s a representation of my pride in my country and my service over multiple combat tours as a special operations medic.”
“Third, if you’re referring that statement to the hat (not featured) I’m wearing because it features an elk, you might not understand it. I happen to co-own Evergreen State Outdoors and am proud to own an outdoors company and support my rights to hunt and responsibly be a gun owner.”
“Finally, I chose to work in a construction industry. I am proud to say that I am apart of building America and I enjoy my job everyday. I tried working a desk job when I got out of the service and it wasn’t for me. I enjoy working with my hands and being outdoors. Subsequently, it comes with being dirty some days. I make good money, have benefits, and am able to provide for my family without issue.”
“So my appearance reflects nothing to do with my level of intelligence or pursuing a higher level of education.”
Andy’s post should remind us all to never judge a book by it’s cover and to always remember people have many reasons for doing what they do.