Isabel Lane of Wisconsin held the hand of a frightened student on his first day of school. A photo of the gesture taken by his mother is widely shared on social media. Photo courtesy Amy Johnson

Isabel Lane of Wisconsin held the hand of a frightened student on his first day of school. A photo of the gesture taken by his mother is widely shared on social media. Photo courtesy Amy Johnson

AUGUSTA, Wis. — A photo of a school bus driver here comforting a frightened student on his first day of school, taken by his mother, is being shared widely on social media.

The mother of Axel, a student starting a 4-year-old kindergarten program, was trying to take a photo of her son happily riding the school bus for the first time, but he became upset when it was time to board the bus, according to WEAU. Axel’s mother had to help him aboard, seating him just behind the driver, Isabel Lane. As Axel's mother took the photo, Lane placed her hand behind the seat for him to hold onto.

Lane, a bus driver for Augusta School District, said of the gesture that “it's just something that I would do,” according to the news source. She added that an action as simple as reaching out a hand to show someone who is struggling that you are there “makes a big difference in someone's day."

Lane added that Axel was waiting at the bus stop the next day by himself with a smile on his face and talked with her “the whole time,” according to WEAU.

The heartwarming image has been posted on the Augusta Police Department’s Facebook page and has been shared 406 times so far. The police department added in its post that "The compassion we see every day in our teachers, bus drivers, custodians, administration, food service staff, and paraprofessionals is truly admirable. ... We are so fortunate to be able to partner with these people!"

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Nicole Schlosser

Nicole Schlosser

Former Executive Editor

Nicole was an editor and writer for School Bus Fleet. She previously worked as an editor and writer for Metro Magazine, School Bus Fleet's sister publication.

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