Staten Island deli manager Wail Alselwi told 12-year-old Zameir Davis that if he got good grades, he could have whatever he wanted in the store. In a now-viral video, Davis ran into the store with his results in hand, announcing, “I told you I’ll get honor roll,” eager to prove to deli manager Alselwi that he had made the honor roll.
The deli manager responded, “No way, you did it? No way, show me that,” to which the student produced a certificate indicating he had made the honor roll.
“He did it. Okay, Zameir go grab whatever you want,” Alselwi remarked. The 12-year-old quickly ran into the aisles and selected four bags of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos and some sandwich cookies.
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The generous manager told Good Morning America, “He’s a really smart kid and his actions is so innocent.” He added that when Davis initially showed him his grades, he said to himself that he would like to support the young student and see if he might improve.
The honor roll student also told the outlet, “I’ve been seeing a lot of kids get honor roll, and stuff and, like, I was like, ‘I want to get honor roll!’ But then I get merit roll and I’m like ‘I don’t want merit roll, I want honor roll!’”
Davis recounted that he tried a lot of times till he finally got a 90 average which placed him on the honor roll. “And I was so excited and happy and I was like all the hard work has paid off. ”
The store owner was proud that the pre-teen had pushed himself to make the list. He said, “He deserved it.”
Davis’ father, Donald Davis, expressed, “I’m very proud of my son. Absolutely 100%. This is just the beginning. He can reach the top if he puts his mind to it. Keep going harder. It not going to stop at the seventh grade going into the eighth grade, you’ve got a whole other four years of high school, one more year of junior high school, college, you know what i’m saying, He’s gonna be my doctor or lawyer someday.”
The grateful dad also acknowledged the deli manager’s work for the kids in the community. Davis isn’t the only one Alselwi encourages to perform their best in class for prizes.
He said, “Some kids have, you know, bad grades. You just need to encourage them to do better so they don’t give up. You give them hope, you give them, you know, there is someone that really cares, there’s a prize after your hard work.”
The father of three said he wishes more people could help children the way he helps them, adding that he never had someone to support and counsel him.
“If there is not someone in your household to encourage you, there is always somebody else outside,” Alselwi added. “Always there’s somebody else outside. Don’t give up, keep going, and you will make it.”
Davis, who plans to pursue a career as a policeman when he’s older, advised, “Never give up.”
