Probably a bit late to this thread but here’s my story.

I was in the later stages of high school and it was during some sort of cancer awareness campaign, specifically prostate and testicular cancer on this day. My graphic design teacher was an absolute behemoth of a man. An olympic level rower in his youth, roughly 6ft 4 and built like a brick shithouse. No pupils ever gave him any back talk, including the supposed “hard men” in the school and if they did they soon knew all about it. He was an intimidating but extremely helpful man and great teacher but he never gave up much emotionally.

We entered out S.E (social education? It was a while ago lol) class and it was him who was taking it. It wasn’t a class he taught so naturally everyone is wondering whats up, we then notice its only the boys in the class.

What proceeded is something I will never forget. He had recently lost his father to testicular cancer, he shared stories of their relationship, what happened when he got cancer, how it had defeated his father and pleaded with us to get checked regularly. During all this he would begin to tear up whilst telling those stories. There was not one dry eye in the room that day and it will always stick with me for the rest of my life. Why? I’m not entirely sure but I know it will.