Support pouring in after man's story goes viral

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The 18-year-old who was willing to walk ten miles to a job interview last week, started his new job Monday.

Last Friday, the owner of Papa Roux on Indy’s east side, Art Bouvier, created a Facebook post that went viral – and plunged Jhaqueil Reagan into somewhat of a national spotlight.

Reagan was walking 10 miles to a job interview Friday morning, when Bouvier saw him. He ended up offering him a job.

 “It’s going to help me provide. It’s going to help me put a roof over their head,” said Jhaqueil Monday, whose mother passed away a couple years ago, and has siblings to help as well. “It will help me tremendously.”

Bouvier says support has poured in for Jhaqueil. His original Facebook post has nearly 15,000 “likes,” and comments from across the country.

Monday, Jhaqueil met Paula Haskin, a woman who saw the story on television, and decided to give him a way to get to work every day.

“A year’s worth of bus passes,” said Haskin. She says IndyGo helped to donate the passes. “You don’t see that type of determination in young people, you really don’t. To see that, I just felt compelled.”

But the fortune doesn't stop there: Jhaqueil hopes to continue the trend.

“I love that quote, 'Pay it forward.' Art said that to me the first time I met him, and I’m going to stick with that, I’m going to pay it forward,” he said.

A positive outlook on life, and perhaps a good reminder from a determined young man.

“Don’t give up. Go out there and try. That’s really what it’s all about, is just trying. It’s all you can do,” Jhaqueil added.