A mom re-creates a ‘Toy Story’ scene to send her son off to college and it tugs at every heart

Walking down memory lane, one mom’s emotional college sendoff to her son has touched millions online.

The heartfelt moment, shared on TikTok by 18-year-old Ben Szram, has now been viewed more than 74 million times.

The viral clip shows Ben stepping out of a room and suddenly smiling as he sees his hallway transformed into a tribute to his younger years.

Lining the walls are photos, teddy bears, and childhood toys that marked different moments of his life.

There are also sweet notes taped to the walls with the words “We Love You” and “Good Luck in College.”

“I’m leaving for college today, and my mom told me she had a surprise,” Ben wrote in the text overlay of his video. Walking through the decorated hallway, he added, “All my childhood toys came to say bye.”

A memory lane surprise that feels like a Toy Story scene

Heading to Loyola University Chicago, Ben later shared that the thoughtful sendoff reminded him of a scene from Toy Story 3, where Andy’s toys line up as he drives away for college.

For him, the sight of his own childhood toys brought back waves of emotion and memories.

The hallway was filled with about 20 to 30 toys from his past, including a toy horse, Mickey Mouse, and a group of Minions.

Each one carried meaning, tied to a special moment or photo from when he was growing up.

Seeing them again made the memory lane even more powerful, showing him how much love and care his mom put into creating it.

A mother’s emotional goodbye

Behind the surprise was Ben’s mom, Kathy Szram, who quietly worked for weeks to pull the tribute together.

She chose photos from when her son was born to his high school graduation.

Alongside the pictures, she carefully placed his childhood toys that once brought him comfort and joy.

Kathy later explained the reason for the emotional goodbye.

“I wanted to just re-create the memory lane of who he is and how far he’s come as a person and make sure that this would be something that he always will cherish,” she said.

The process of putting the hallway together brought her to tears.

For her, it was more than just a decoration—a way of honoring her son’s journey and saying goodbye to the chapter of his life filled with toys, stuffed animals, and family traditions.

Childhood toys carry special meaning

Among the most touching details were the pairings of photos and actual childhood toys.

For example, a baby photo of Ben cuddling with his Mickey Mouse plush was placed beside the same toy years later.

The thoughtful arrangement made the tribute feel like the toys were part of a personal farewell.

The toys woven into the hallway reminded both mother and son of the countless moments these toys had been part of.

They weren’t just objects but symbols of love, growth, and memories shared through the years.

From memory lane to millions of views

While the sendoff was deeply personal, Ben decided to record and upload it to TikTok.

He thought it would be a simple way to save the moment and share it with friends.

But within hours, the video began spreading far and wide, with millions of people relating to the memory lane surprise.

“It’s crazy how much people were relating to us and it’s comforting,” Ben later shared. “I love hearing that I’m not alone with this feeling of leaving for college.”

The reaction showed just how universal the experience of saying goodbye can be.

Many families saw themselves in the video, remembering their childhood toys, their emotional goodbye moments, and the mixed feelings that come with moving into a new stage of life.

A mom’s message to other parents

As the video spread, Kathy realized she wasn’t alone either.

Many parents wrote to her, sharing how hard it was to watch their children leave for college.

Her response was filled with empathy and warmth.

“My heart goes out to every mom,” Kathy said. “I just want to wish every parent out there having the same emotional breakdowns like I did just all the best and all my love to them.”

Her words made the story more than just one family’s memory lane.

It became a message of support to countless parents experiencing the same mix of pride, sadness, and love.

Holding on to memories while letting go

In the end, Kathy’s surprise wasn’t just a goodbye gift.

It celebrated her son’s journey through childhood toys, photos, and family notes that made their home feel like a living scrapbook.

By creating a memory lane filled with love, she turned an emotional goodbye into a moment that will always stay in their hearts.

And for millions watching online, the story became a reminder that while children grow up and move forward, the memories—and the love that built them—never fade.

Watch Ben walk down memory lane in a moment that feels straight out of Toy Story—an emotional sendoff you won’t forget:

@benio0829 one of the hardest goodbyes #college #emptynest #fyp ♬ original sound – V 🎀