A teacher stepped up when a student lost her dad. She honored him with a tattoo bearing his powerful words

There is nothing easy about losing our parents. No matter how hard we try, their heartbreaking absence often leaves a permanent emptiness in our hearts, eventually shaping how we perceive the world, which they aren't a part of anymore. Having said that, some people are just beyond lucky to find soulful companions in life who not only try to fill the painful void left by their loved ones but also bring unexpected comfort, understanding, and a sense of belonging in their lives. Likewise, when Bridgette Edwards (@b1sab1tch on TikTok) entered high school after losing her dad, Karl Turk, her favorite teacher, stepped in as the much-needed father figure in her life.

"Words will never express how he helped my life out. Since I didn’t really have that father figure in my life, he definitely took that place," Edwards shared with PEOPLE, talking about how Turk, with time, became her go-to person during times of uncertainty and self-doubt. To honor this very special bond she shared with her teacher, Edwards decided to get his handwritten note tattooed on herself. It was a message Turk had written for Edwards during some of her darkest times. In an emotional video, which has now gone viral on social media, the young girl revealed her heartfelt tribute to Turk — a precious moment that left everyone on the internet sobbing. As captured in the clip, Turk stood up from his place and removed the letter that Edwards had intentionally kept on her back, hiding her special tattoo. 

Initially, Turk, her teacher, couldn't understand what was happening, but the minute he saw the tattoo on Edwards' back, he was left speechless. "Can I touch you?" Turk asked, before slowly placing his hand on her tattoo, as if confirming it wasn't a dream. At this point, Turk could no longer control his emotions as he broke down in tears. Further, in the video, Edwards attached a close-up picture of her tattoo that read, "Know that worrying is paying on a debt you don’t even owe. For those that worry say, ‘You only live once,’ but you, Bridgette, will only die once, yet live every day. Karl!" Moreover, she expressed her gratitude to Turk for being such a positive impact on her life and wrote, "Now, he’s gonna be a part of me forever and is stuck with me haha!" in the caption.

While Edwards was lucky to find a loving teacher who stood by her during her difficult time, a report by the American Psychological Association shows how young people, aged between 18-35, go through more emotional distress than middle-aged adults after losing their parents. Especially at such a tender age, the loss of an anchor in life is quite perplexing, the grief insurmountable. Edwards was 11 when she lost her father, an important male figure in her life, who, perhaps, would have had a positive impact on her, especially during her teenage years. However, despite losing her parent at such a young age, the only reason why she could somehow overcome the grief was, partly, because of her teacher, Turk, who left no stone unturned to make her feel at ease; otherwise, Edwards could have been a completely different personality today. As reported by the National Library of Medicine, adolescents with strong parental bonds are more likely to exhibit fewer behavioral problems and have better emotional development. This explains why Edward, who fortunately found a parental figure in her teacher, grew up to be emotionally strong.

Echoing these sentiments, @puppylife34 commented, "I love how he was so careful when he went to look at it. He wanted to be so respectful and was just so surprised. Good job." Similarly, @prettyluh_ashh0 wrote, "Oh, girly, you’re SO lucky. Keep in touch with him after school. I keep in touch with my favorite teacher, and it honestly helps so much when I’m struggling at times."

@shoelover99 said, "What a beautiful honor to him and to you for making sure he knew just how important he is and will always be. THIS is the reason he chose to become a teacher. A special one!" @cazaroth wrote, "This is so sweet! I wish I had amazing teachers like this; I feel it would have helped me so much more." Another user, who goes by @adorebluebills on TikTok, commented, "That will stay with him forever. He became a teacher to teach kids and impact their lives in a great way, and that’s exactly what he did! I miss my favorite teacher from 9th grade forever in my heart."

You can follow Bridgette Edwards (@b1sab1tch) on Instagram for more such wholesome content.