FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) - Sometimes, a little encouragement can make a big difference. At Freedom Elementary, fourth-grader Yovani Velasco-Morelos doesn’t just lift himself up— he lifts up everyone around him. “ When I'm feeling down, when other classmates are feeling down, he helps us, um, like, he pumps us up," said J.P. Sanchez, a friend of Yovani. J.P. Sanchez is a fourth grader at Freedom Elementary and he’s talking about his fellow classmate and friend Yovani Velasco-Morelos. In a classroom full of students, Yovani is the one to pump you up when if you are feeling a bit deflated. Whether it’s a tough math problem or a hard day, he is always there to lift others up. “Not only is he a very nice student, but he is a very intelligent student. He excels, he really strives to accomplish his work and do it well," said his teacher Monica Neri. "He likes to help other students around him, and he’s just genuinely a student who follows directions and meets expectations.” Where some students rush to finish their work, Yovani slows down to help others making sure no one gets left behind. He doesn’t just want to succeed— he wants his classmates to succeed, too. His work ethic comes from home and he’s sharing those lessons with his classmates. "Because I just want to grow up in a society that, People don't do bad stuff, and they just, like, can work together and not make more problems,” said Yovani. Yovani knows a little encouragement can turn a struggle into a success and a little nudge in the right direction is a way to a better society.  “I tell them, like, hey, don't do that, because then you'll get in really big trouble. And that's not a good thing for your parents, because then they get involved. And then they're going to have to be paying the consequences,” Yovani said. Yovani just wants what’s best for everyone. And in a classroom full of students, Yovani is the one making sure everyone stays filled with energy and confidence— proving that lifting others up is just as important as doing well yourself and that character matters. ...read more read less