Have you ever experienced a moment that changed your life? A group of college students surely have. Let me tell you their incredible story, one that will leave you astonished!
It all started with a simple purchase from the Salvation Army—a comfortable old sofa. Little did they know that this sofa held more than just a place to relax. As they brought the sofa into their dorm room, they noticed something odd—the integrated side cushions were crumpled. Intrigued, they decided to explore further. And what they discovered was beyond their wildest imagination.
Hidden within the cushions were not one, but two bubble wrap bags. Incredibly, the bags contained a whopping $41,000 in $100 bills! Can you imagine their surprise? One of the students, Verhoeven, a geology major, couldn’t believe her eyes. Mixed feelings of fear and excitement washed over her as she uncovered this hidden treasure. They carefully counted and documented the money, capturing the surreal moments in photographs.
At first, these students couldn’t believe their luck. They began envisioning all the incredible things they could do with the money. But soon, their joy turned into moral contemplation when they noticed a woman’s name written on one of the envelopes. It was a moral dilemma that tested their integrity.
Realizing they hadn’t earned this money, any sense of entitlement vanished. Deep down, they knew what they had to do. With the unwavering support of their parents, the students embarked on a mission to find the rightful owner of the discovered treasure. Their parents advised them to keep their secret safe from prying eyes.
After an extensive search led by Werkhoven’s mother, they finally found the woman’s contact information in a phone book. Nervously, Werkhoven picked up the phone, unsure of how she would react. She told the woman, “I found a couch.” And in disbelief, the woman responded, “Oh my God, I left a lot of money in that couch.” Werkhoven added, “I found something that I think is yours.” The woman couldn’t believe her ears.
The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, shared her surprising reason for hiding her fortune. After her husband passed away, she secretly left him money to secure his future. With nowhere else to hide it, he carefully stashed his savings in a bank that had been his companion for 30 years. But when the woman recently had back surgery and needed to replace her old couch, she donated it to the Salvation Army—unaware of the hidden treasure within.
Despite the allure of the money, the students felt no remorse in returning it to its rightful owner. In fact, they expressed a desire to share a meal with the woman and her family after their heartwarming reunion. Werkhoven reflected on the experience, sharing, “I believe that anyone can do good if they genuinely will themselves to do so.” And Russo, one of the students, added, “I think everything happened the way it should have, and to be honest, I don’t really dwell on it that much.”
As a sign of gratitude, the woman generously allocated $1,000 to three students. A true reward for their unwavering honesty and integrity. This heartwarming conclusion to an extraordinary story reminds us of the power of doing what is right despite temptation. It serves as a friendly reminder that each and every one of us has the ability to make a positive impact simply by choosing to do good. So, the next time you face a moral dilemma, ask yourself: Will you do the same with honor?
