Abigail Sailors just finished her first semester at Trinity Bible College in North Dakota - where she's studying youth ministry and psychology and plays on the school's basketball team - but took the waitressing job after she was unable to pay for the upcoming term. However, it looks like she'll be able to return to campus after a generous Trinity alumnus customer left Sailors over $6,000 to help pay for her
"I said, 'Are you serious,' and my eyes just filled with tears. It's always been my dream college to go there and play basketball, and go to a Christian school where I can seek God," Sailors told Fox News.
According to the Journal Star, two male customers asked to be seated with the Cracker Barrel's "grumpiest server" to try and make them laugh, but instead got Sailors - the "happiest." Over the course of the meal, the two men persistently asked Sailors why she was so happy.
The youngest of five siblings, Sailors had been in the care of foster families since she was only seven months old, after a car crash left her parents unable to continue raising their children. While she told the customers she had several rough experiences, the siblings were eventually taken in nine years ago by John and Susi Sailors - parents so loving that Abigail has now adopted their last name.
Sailors also told the costumers about attended school at Trinity Bible College - a dream that was on hold.
Unbeknownst to Sailors, one of the customers had graduated from Trinity. At the end of the meal, he pulled out his checkbook and gave his waitress a $5,000 tuition check to return to college and another $1,000 check for "whatever she needed," the Journal Star reports.
Sailors expressed her shock and gratitude on Twitter:
Breathe in.Breathe out.Move on.
- abbs (@abbyKadaBee11) January 3, 2014
When someone believes in you>>
- abbs (@abbyKadaBee11) January 3, 2014
Can't believe all that has happened. #God.is.Faithful
- abbs (@abbyKadaBee11) January 5, 2014