A $693 Act of Kindness That Changed a Life

For years, 44-year-old single mother Latonya Young worked tirelessly driving Uber at night to support her three children. Living in Atlanta, Georgia, she often dreamed of finishing college at Georgia State University — but that dream was put on hold when an unpaid balance of $693 forced her to drop out years earlier.

In 2018, after driving a passenger home from a soccer game, her life quietly changed forever. That passenger, Kevin Esch, struck up a conversation with her. Latonya shared her story — her dream of returning to college, her struggle to make ends meet, and the barrier that kept her from moving forward. Kevin listened closely and offered her words of encouragement.

A few weeks later, without telling her, Kevin called Georgia State and paid off the $693 debt himself. When the university called Latonya to tell her she could re-enroll, she burst into tears. A complete stranger had believed in her enough to remove the one thing standing in her way.

With that single act of kindness, Latonya’s life began to shift. She returned to school, balancing classes with her job and raising three kids. On May 6, 2021, she proudly walked across the stage to receive her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Kevin was in the crowd that day, cheering her on like family. What began as a simple car ride turned into a powerful story of hope, generosity, and lasting friendship.

Today, Latonya says she’s inspired to help others the way Kevin helped her. “He didn’t just pay a bill,” she said. “He gave me back my dream.”

One act of kindness can change a life — and sometimes, it can change two.