Ella Johannessen was having the worst time trying to juggle her personal life, her last year of university, and her finances. To focus on her studies, she’d been forced to give up the part-time job that had been keeping her bank account from overdrawing. As bills began to pile up, she found herself counting every spare cent that she could get her hands on. When a bank transfer somehow went awry, she had a break down on the public train. She called her mother and vented her frustrations before taking a quick nap. When she woke up, she couldn’t believe what had been tucked in a napkin and placed on her lap.

Roughly $140 had been folded into a napkin and placed on her lap to find. She was stunned. Some random stranger had not only overheard her conversation, but had already had enough spare cash to give away. The money would keep her afloat until she could figure out her next move.
She had a message for the stranger:

After a terrible 18 months where I lost my father and both of his parents it showed me that there is kindness and good people in the world. I will pass your kindness on. I want to say thank you to the person who gave me this gift, I hope you will eventually see this.”

She plans to pay the act of kindness forward by volunteering in her city. She hopes it inspires others.

Credits: Ella Johannessen