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Cop surprises boy with PlayStation after police were called on him for offering yard work

"Officer Colleran, a gamer himself, was impressed with the young man and thought he would help him reach his goal."

ps5, hapeville police
City of Hapeville Police/Facebook

Hope they become the best gamer buddies.

The bond between gamers is a special one.

In a short Facebook post, the Hapeville Police Department in Georgia shared that one of their officers recently surprised a young boy with a PlayStation.

Office Colleran was called to “remove a juvenile” from the area. However, when he arrived on the scene, the boy had revealed he only “wanted to do yard work: pulling weeds, cutting grass and trimming hedges to save up for a PlayStation.”

The department praised the young man as being “polite, respectful and truthful,” and wrote that “Officer Colleran, a gamer himself, was impressed with the young man and thought he would help him reach his goal.”

The video below shows the sweet moment that Office Colleran appears with not only a new Ps5 gaming system waiting for the boy, but a “gift card to pay for the membership so he could play immediately.”

The boy’s reaction says it all:

“Officer Colleran made sure that this young man knew they would play on the same team online soon!” the post concluded.

Over in the comments section, people were delighted that the officer made the young man feel recognized for his efforts and were all around touched by the positive interaction.

Check out what folks had to say:

“Thank you Officer Colleran! What you just did for that young man is life changing. The caller should be embarrassed. Keep being awesome young man! There are plenty of our youth that could learn from your example. 💙🙏”

“I could not love this more. ❤️ Thank you Officer Colleran and friends for acknowledging this boy was doing absolutely nothing wrong! He was seeking work so he could get himself a PlayStation. Very kind gesture, Hapeville PD.”

“We need more people like this officer and this young man. It's awesome to see a young person with a work ethic and an officer that takes time to be involved with his community. God bless you both.”

It’s disheartening enough to hear when good adults are treated poorly, but when someone does something unkind to a good kid…that’s a whole ‘nother level of soul-crushing. But when this does happen, people often step up to help, because at the end of the day, there’s still just as much, if not more, goodness left in humanity than there is bad. Certainly, many people would have responded the way Officer Colleran did.

Hope these two become the best of gaming buddies.

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Meet the 18-year-old advocating for teen mental health, one inspiring podcast at a time

All images provided by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

Collins after being selected by Prudential Emerging Visionaries

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A changemaker is anyone who takes creative action to solve an ongoing problem—be it in one’s own community or throughout the world.

And when it comes to creating positive change, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective can hold just as much power as years of experience. That’s why, every year, Prudential Emerging Visionaries celebrates young people for their innovative solutions to financial and societal challenges in their communities.

This national program awards 25 young leaders (ages 14-18) up to $15,000 to devote to their passion projects. Additionally, winners receive a trip to Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, where they receive coaching, skills development, and networking opportunities with mentors to help take their innovative solutions to the next level.

For 18-year-old Sydnie Collins, one of the 2023 winners, this meant being able to take her podcast, “Perfect Timing,” to the next level.

Since 2020, the Maryland-based teen has provided a safe platform that promotes youth positivity by giving young people the space to celebrate their achievements and combat mental health stigmas. The idea came during the height of Covid-19, when Collins recalled social media “becoming a dark space flooded with news,” which greatly affected her own anxiety and depression.

Knowing that she couldn’t be the only one feeling this way, “Perfect Timing” seemed like a valuable way to give back to her community. Over the course of 109 episodes, Collins has interviewed a wide range of guests—from other young influencers to celebrities, from innovators to nonprofit leaders—all to remind Gen Z that “their dreams are tangible.”

That mission statement has since evolved beyond creating inspiring content and has expanded to hosting events and speaking publicly at summits and workshops. One of Collins’ favorite moments so far has been raising $7,000 to take 200 underserved girls to see “The Little Mermaid” on its opening weekend, to “let them know they are enough” and that there’s an “older sister” in their corner.

Of course, as with most new projects, funding for “Perfect Timing” has come entirely out of Collins’ pocket. Thankfully, the funding she earned from being selected as a Prudential Emerging Visionary is going toward upgraded recording equipment, the support of expert producers, and skill-building classes to help her become a better host and public speaker. She’ll even be able to lease an office space that allows for a live audience.

Plus, after meeting with the 24 other Prudential Emerging Visionaries and her Prudential employee coach, who is helping her develop specific action steps to connect with her target audience, Collins has more confidence in a “grander path” for her work.

“I learned that my network could extend to multiple spaces beyond my realm of podcasting and journalism when industry leaders are willing to share their expertise, time, and financial support,” she told Upworthy. “It only takes one person to change, and two people to expand that change.”

Prudential Emerging Visionaries is currently seeking applicants for 2024. Winners may receive up to $15,000 in awards and an all-expenses-paid trip to Prudential’s headquarters with a parent or guardian, as well as ongoing coaching and skills development to grow their projects.

If you or someone you know between the ages of 14 -18 not only displays a bold vision for the future but is taking action to bring that vision to life, click here to learn more. Applications are due by Nov. 2, 2023.
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