School can sometimes be a traumatizing experience for children who have to deal with bullies. For one little girl, the prospect of going to middle school was a scary one, until she met an unlikely friend who made her feel relaxed.

Audrey was terrified to start middle school, as she was afraid that she would not fit in. Her mother Gina recently took to social media to recount why her daughter has a very specific morning routine to help make her school day run smoother.

“My name is Gina and I am a mom of 4 kids under the age of 10,” she wrote. “As a parent, I am constantly trying to encourage my kids. In our house, our motto is: ‘If it isn’t motivating, encouraging or inspiring, don’t say it.’ My hope is that the words I use to inspire them will stick with them when the world isn’t so nice. This year is my oldest daughter Audrey’s first year in middle school. She can be really shy, and like all middle schoolers was nervous to start a new school.”

Gina typically drops Audrey off at the corner on a morning for her to walk the rest of the journey to school but this day she took her to the parent drop off point.

“When we pulled in to the school she said, ‘Oh no, I forgot! I like you dropping me off at the corner, so I can talk to the cute, little old man. And today I would have had more time!'” Gina wrote. The mother was confused when she heard this, and she asked Audrey who the old man was.

“He stands at the steps where you drop me off and encourages all the students as they walk in. He talks about kindness, gives us advice and fist bumps! It’s the best part of the day,” Audrey told her.

Gina decided to head over to meet the old man herself, and her heart melted when she saw what he was doing. The elderly man is named Wally, he’s 94-years-old and he’s been bringing smiles to the kids’ faces for many years.

“As I sat there listening to what he was telling the kids, most of them were able to recite those sentiments back. You know that he is making a difference because the kids ARE listening to him,” Gina recounted. “Hopefully, as they move along their day they remember those words and make better choices than they would have if they hadn’t come across him.  I think if there were more Wally’s in the world, it goes without saying, the world would be a better place.”

Meet Wally yourself in the video below, and SHARE this story so your friends and family can see this as well!