A fourth grader has been given free haircuts for life by a generous local barber after getting perfect grades at school. Kamarian Fox, a 9-year-old from North Carolina, has been getting his hair cut by Mike Shelton at Next Level Barbershop since school began in August this year, according to ABC News, and the pair hit it off immediately.
Fox initially struck Shelton as a "bright kid, excited about school and motivated," with the barber telling ABC News that he agreed to give Fox a free haircut if he could get good grades at school. Sure enough, Fox returned a few months later on Nov. 16 with a straight-A report card to show his friend.
True to form, Shelton kept his promise and gave Fox a free haircut, bringing him to the front of the line and telling him "you're a V.I.P. today," according to The Gaston Gazette. To help keep Kamarian motivated, Shelton has vowed to return the favor every time the boy gets such good grades.
Kamarian's mother Cameron Fox is appreciative of what Shelton has done for her son, saying that "I just appreciate his open arms and making us feel welcome, and giving Kam something to look forward to." She also noted that Kamarian is an above-average student, saying that he is one of just a few children at school who are part of an academically and intellectually gifted program.
As for Shelton, his act of kindness towards Kamarian is part of what he referred to on his Facebook page as a challenge to "encourage others to reach our kids [and] youth and encourage them in their studies."
He believes that barbers can play a positive role in their communities, telling The Gaston Gazette that "I knew it would be deeper than just cutting people's hair... You can impact their lives for that 30 minutes and inspire them to leave through those doors and do something great."
