Written by: Mariah Isom (@ma.riahh)

Congratulations to the senior class of 2025 for new beginnings are on the horizon for graduates everywhere. One unexpected and inspiring new chapter is unfolding for Mykale Baker, a young man who graduated from Mill Creek High School in Dacula, Georgia. After walking across the stage, instead of heading out to party like many of his peers, Mykale went straight to work at Burger King—still wearing his high school graduation medals.

There, he caught the attention of Maria Mendoza, the mother of fellow graduate Daizie Chavez. Moved by his dedication, Maria posted a video of Mykale to TikTok and tagged Burger King, hoping the company would recognize his work ethic with a scholarship. She didn’t wait for someone else to act—instead, she and the TikTok community launched a GoFundMe for Mykale. What started with a modest goal of $5,000 quickly surpassed expectations.

After reaching out to Mykale’s workplace, Maria connected with him and his mother. Mykale shared that he had planned to take a gap year to save up for school so he could pursue a career in automotive technology. But thanks to the power of community and social media, that plan is accelerating faster than expected. The original TikTok video has now garnered over 4.4 million views, and the GoFundMe has raised over $100,000.

In a beautiful twist, Burger King also awarded both Mykale Baker and Daizie Chavez $10,000 scholarships. All from a single act of kindness, a video taken on a phone, and the courage to share someone’s story. A blurry clip, a big heart, and a powerful reminder: one click can change not only your life, but someone else’s too.