WICHITA, Kansas – One man's kind gesture is having a major impact on a Wichita, Kansas teen's future.
Tariq Barksdale's opportunity started at Defazio's Italian Restaurant in early January. It was a little after 10 p.m. the 18 year old got off work. Without a car, Barksdale started his six-mile trek to his south Wichita home.
"I walk everywhere, walking is nothing to me," he said.
Barksdale said he was about a mile into his walk when he heard someone yell at him.
"It was freezing outside and I'm sure he was pretty cold," said Jacob Villa. "I just hollered at him out the window, 'Hey you want a ride?'"
"Well, at first, you know, everybody is like don't talk to strangers, so I'm like ugh, but then I'm like I need a ride, so I'm just going to take my chances," Barksdale said.
That chance, or choice to get in the car with Villa, would soon change Barksdale's future. As Villa and his son drove the teen home, they started making small talk.
"I started asking him questions on what he's doing out so late and, you know, where is he headed," Villa said.
"I told him I was just working right now, trying to save up money to go to college," Barksdale said.
Barksdale works two jobs. He said he's always dreamed of going to college, but growing up in a broken home with nine other siblings, he didn't think he could do it.
"Where I'm from, money's not that easy," he said.
However, Villa said his decision to help Barksdale was very easy.
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