A teen who framed a photo of her sailor brother to take to her graduation so it felt like he would be there cried tears of joy when he returned home to surprise her as she walked across the stage.
With a four-year age gap between siblings Sydnie, 18, and Skylar Matlock, 22, Sydnie had spoken throughout high school of how she hoped her brother could be present at her graduation.
Skylar is currently a petty officer in the United States Navy, stationed in San Diego, California, and so he knew he needed to do all he could to return to Newkirk, Oklahoma, for his sister’s big day.
As her brother had previously been deployed and then needed to return to California, Sydnie believed her brother’s military commitments meant he wouldn’t be able to make it back.
The teenager even framed a photo of her brother and asked family members to bring it to graduation, “so he could be present,” but little did she know her brother had been working on a surprise.
The siblings’ mom, Crystal, 41, liaised with staff at Newkirk High School to make sure her son’s surprise wouldn’t interrupt the ceremony itself, and decided he’d wait until Sydnie had received her diploma.
As she made her way off stage on May 15, she saw his familiar face and immediately began to cry tears of happiness as she headed towards Skylar for an emotional reunion hug.
Crystal shared a video she captured of the moment on social media, where her post then went viral.
Sydnie will be attending Cowley County Community College and plans to study Early Childhood Education.
Mom Crystal said: “Even though she was disappointed, thinking her brother couldn’t make it, Sydnie tried to stay positive and make the best of it.
“One of the sweetest parts was that she framed a photo of Skylar and insisted we bring it with us to graduation so he could still be there.
“The framed picture actually helped us pull off the surprise.
“We told Sydnie her dad needed to run back out to the vehicle because I had forgotten the picture, when he was really going to get Skylar and hide him behind a curtain until the perfect moment.
“As Sydnie walked off the stage after receiving her diploma, Skylar stepped out from behind the curtain and surprised her.
“She was completely shocked and immediately became emotional when she realized her brother was actually there.
“The two of them hugged while the crowd around them cheered.
“It was an incredibly emotional and unforgettable moment for our whole family.”
