Teacher predicted he’d one day perform on 'Tonight Show'. When he got there, he surprised his teacher with a request
For Josh Johnson, Mr. Ward was his guiding light who recognised his spark long before the world did.
They say teachers are our second parents for a reason, because the right ones can shape not just our minds, but our entire perspective on life. While not every teacher has left a lasting impression, some of us were fortunate to have had those special teachers who often become the guiding lights behind who we grow up to be. For popular stand-up comedian Josh Johnson, that guiding light was his high school teacher, Mr Ward, who recognised his spark long before the world did. And now, years later, in February 2017, Josh’s way of returning that encouragement is one of the most heartwarming videos you will find on the internet today.
Josh Johnson has made quite a mark in the field of stand-up comedy, being one of the most entertaining artists out there. But back in high school, the young gentleman was a student of Holy Saviour Menard in Alexandria, and he never thought that he would be performing live on television one day. But his teacher, Mr Ward, did. After his first live performance on The Tonight Show on February 22, 2017, the young comic was asked to introduce the special guest he had brought to the show.
Josh revealed that back in high school, when he performed his first stand-up comedy at the high school for a talent show, his teacher, Mr Ward, conveyed his appreciation for his talent by assuring that, "I’m gonna see you on ‘The Tonight Show’ one day." Years later, Mr Ward's faith in him, Josh flew him all the way to the Tonight Show to show his teacher just how far he had come. The crowd went 'aww' when Josh said, "And so, I flew him out to make sure he could see it." When the cameras panned to focus on Mr Ward, who was seated with the audience, his face revealed the joy of watching his student make it big. Jimmy Fallon is then seen hugging him by saying, "Hey, Mr Ward. He made it. He made it," to which Mr Ward, who looks overwhelmed by the emotions, is seen giving his thumbs up of excitement.
A study conducted by Archana Yadav and Rekharani in 2021 examined the relationship between teacher behaviours, classroom culture, and the self-esteem of undergraduate students. The study found that positive teacher behaviours, such as fairness, encouragement, motivation, and acceptance, were significantly associated with higher levels of student self-esteem. Conversely, negative behaviours and unsupportive environments contributed to lower self-esteem in kids. For Josh, Mr Ward gave him the support and confidence he needed to become the person he is today.
As soon as the video was posted online, many YouTube users expressed their appreciation to Mr Ward for recognising Josh's talent. One comment by @Sherri-w7f wrote, "I almost cried when he talked about his teacher and they showed him."
Another user named @Alex_in_Wonderland111 wrote, "It's the smile on his face like he's just happy to be here that makes these sets." User @diamondj1979 commented, "Aww, he flew his teacher out to the show! What a kind act to repay his teacher's faith in him. May this young man have a long and prosperous career!"
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