High School Senior in Tears as He Shows Teacher He Tattooed Her Final Note to Him on His Chest (Exclusive)

Chayce McCoy discovered his high school's culinary program during his sophomore year

When Chayce McCoy began his high school journey, he didn't have a clear plan for his future.

The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native had never been particularly enthusiastic about school, and by the start of his freshman year at Carroll High School, he was grappling with his mental health and feeling lost.

However, during his sophomore year, McCoy discovered Carroll High School's culinary program, a two-year program that equips students with college-level skills. By junior year, he had enrolled in the program and connected with Renee Sigmon, a teacher specializing in family and consumer sciences.

"That's when things started to change for me," McCoy, now 18, shares exclusively with PEOPLE. " [Renee] provided immediate support both mentally and academically; she never gave up on me."

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From then on, McCoy immersed himself in culinary arts throughout his remaining high school years. He joined the school's Blue Flame culinary competition team and achieved notable success in state-level competitions.

Throughout his two years in the program, Sigmon consistently supported McCoy, both inside and outside the classroom.

"She really helped me find my path again, making me feel like I had a purpose," he adds, fondly referring to her as his "school mom."

Sigmon recalls how when she first met McCoy, he was a very talkative student with a lot of personality. Over the years, they developed a relationship where she would challenge him when needed, even if he didn't always appreciate it.

"I could see his creativity," she says. "When I saw him in the kitchen, I knew he had a lot of growing up to do and needed to work on perfecting his skills in sanitation and safety. We started with that and faced challenges, but he kept improving."

As McCoy approached the end of his senior year in the spring 2024 semester, he wanted to express his gratitude to Sigmon for everything she had done for him. In March, he asked Sigmon to write a few words of inspiration or advice for him. Despite her busy schedule at the end of the school year, she eventually penned a note.

"Never let anyone dull your sparkle, always live your truth, and continue to fight for what you believe," the note read.

"It really resonated with me, so I decided to get it tattooed on my chest," McCoy reveals.

For a week, McCoy kept the tattoo a secret, allowing it to heal before revealing it to Sigmon. When the moment came, McCoy surprised her in her classroom and captured her raw reaction on video, which he later shared on TikTok. The video has since amassed over 4.6 million views.

"I had no idea he was getting a tattoo," Sigmon admits. "I knew he struggled in school, and I wanted him to have something that would remind him to always fight for what he believes in and to do the right thing."

She adds that the day before he revealed the tattoo to her, they had an emotional conversation about the school year coming to an end, which moved McCoy to tears.

"When I started high school, I never imagined going to college, and I never really wanted to. I also never expected to be as deeply involved in the culinary industry as I am now," says McCoy, who's now an incoming business student at the University of Cincinnati.

"Through her, I've found personal achievements," McCoy adds. "She's helped me become a better person and chef, someone I've always been able to rely on."

Since McCoy graduated in June, the two have kept in touch, sharing pictures of food and bonding over the viral TikTok video.

Although he no longer has the original note — he accidentally misplaced it — he will always carry its sentiment tattooed on his chest.

"She's someone that I will always have in my life," McCoy says.

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Read the original article on People.