06/01/2026
When I first opened 7 Friday Sushi, there was this short kid who would come in with his friends all the time. They'd buy drinks, grab some sushi, and spend their days wandering around the Town Lake boardwalk area.
One night, after we had already closed, he came in limping. He had stepped on a nail while running through a grassy field. I gave him some sushi and a drink and told him, "Be careful out there. Whatever you do, make your parents proud."
After that, I never saw him again.
Fast forward four years.
A lady named Van called and wanted to surprise her son with a sushi boat for his graduation celebration.
Meet David.
The first thing I noticed was that he was now towering over me. The second thing was the impressive collection of medals hanging around his neck. The one that amazed me most was learning he got NROTC wrestling scholarship.
Think about that for a second—a small Asian kid taking on opponents and earning a scholarship through hard work, discipline, and determination.
Even though I hadn't seen David in four years, I couldn't have been more proud of him. You could see that same pride on the faces of his family and friends throughout the entire celebration.
Thank you to David's family for thinking of us on such a special day. It's moments like these that remind me why I love what I do. Watching kids grow up, chase their dreams, and achieve incredible things is truly a blessing.
Congratulations, David. Hopefully one day I'll get the chance to watch you wrestle in person. ❤️
— 7FS