We live in a world where headlines are often filled with conflict, controversy, and chaos. But every now and then, a story breaks through that reminds us of the quiet power of kindness, purpose, and human connection. That’s exactly what I felt when I read about Cris Hassold  a Florida art history professor who passed away in 2020 and left her $2.8 million estate to 31 of her former students.

Let that sink in. A college professor, not a tech mogul or a celebrity, left nearly $3 million to her students  not to her family, not to a university endowment but to the individuals she taught, mentored, and loved.

I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

Cris Hassold taught at New College of Florida for years. She was passionate about art, culture, and more importantly, about her students. She never married or had children. Her students were, by all accounts, her family. She spent her life investing in them , intellectually, emotionally, and as it turns out, financially.

What moved me the most wasn’t the money though that is, of course, life-changing but the way she chose to live and give. Hassold lived modestly. She didn’t flaunt her wealth or chase luxury. She quietly saved and invested, and when her time came, she made a decision that most of us wouldn’t even think of: she gave her life’s savings to the people she believed in.

Some students received tens of thousands of dollars. Others received hundreds of thousands. It wasn’t just random generosity, she had kept in touch with many of them, knew their stories, their struggles, their dreams. And when the time came, she made sure they would feel seen, remembered, and supported one last time.

One former student used the money to pay off medical bills. Another put it toward a down payment on a home. Several paid off student loans. And nearly all of them say the same thing: that the real gift wasn’t just financial  it was emotional. It was proof that someone believed in them enough to leave behind a piece of her life.

When I read this, I started thinking about the teachers who shaped me the ones who stayed after class to answer questions, the ones who noticed when something was off, the ones who pushed me to do better because they believed I could. Most of them will never get headlines. But they change lives in ways that can never be measured.

Cris Hassold reminded me and maybe reminds all of us  that legacy isn't about fame or fortune. It’s about people. It's about the impact you have on others, day by day, quietly, consistently.

I don’t know about you, but I want to live a little more like Professor Hassold.

I want to remember the people who matter. I want to give not just money, but time, encouragement, belief. I want to make sure the people around me know that they are seen, that they are valued, and that they are not alone.

And maybe, in a world where it sometimes feels like everyone’s looking out for themselves, we can all take a little inspiration from the professor who looked out for her students  not just in the classroom, but long after the final bell rang.

So, here’s to you, Cris Hassold. Thank you for the reminder that teaching and living is ultimately an act of love.