In the true spirit of the holidays, social media users are hoping to make one student feel a little less lonely this winter.
Aron Anderson, a 10-year-old known as "Britain's loneliest schoolboy," lives on the Scottish island of Out Skerries and made headlines last month for being the only student at Skerries Community School. While the school previously had a few other students, the kids have since left for secondary school, making this year Aron's first as the sole pupil there, according to The Daily Mail.
After Reddit moderator BesottedScot got wind of Aron's story, the social media user called on fellow Redditors to send Christmas cards to the 10-year-old to help show the boy he has friends across the Internet.
"I really want him to get a big massive smile on his face," the moderator wrote. "So please, write a wee message in the card to show your support too!"
The idea is already generating praise and support, racking up more than 800 upvotes as of Wednesday morning from kind people across the Internet, eager to make Aron feel loved.
According to the Reddit post, BesottedScot reached out to the boy's school, alerting them of the thoughtful plan. The moderator requested that people outside Scotland send postcards to Aron so the boy can see where his fans come from. The Redditor also asked social media users to send the cards after December 7, so the sweet messages would all arrive around the same time.
Advertisement
This year will indeed be an adjustment for Aron, whose town has a population of 70. Before, the 10-year-old's brothers and friends attended his school, however they currently go to one located two and a half hours away by boat and can only see Aron on weekends and holidays, the Telegraph reported. Aron's best friends are now his dog, ducks, and flocks of sheep.
Aron's mother Denise Anderson is unsure of how her son will deal with the isolation.
“This is going to be his first winter as the only pupil so it’s hard to tell how it will be for him," she said, according to the Telegraph.
Aron admits that going to school without other students can be strange at times, however he asserts that he's happy on the island.
Hopefully, the cards will help remind him that he's not so alone after all.
To send Aron some Christmas cheer, mail your card to the address below:
Mr. Aron Anderson
c/o Skerries School Out Skerries Shetland ZE2 9AR
Also on HuffPost:
Christmas Cookies
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.