Most students are starting classes this new academic year, and several are moving into college dorms. The tradition inspires newcomers to decorate their rooms and parents to share teary goodbyes with their children each year.
Hakin Wagner, a student at Maryville University, experienced this like no other. His parents decided to prank him by decorating his dorm with a poster of his father and a life-size cutout of his mother. The Wagners posted their son’s reaction online and racked up millions of views.
Jill Wagner says her son asked her to add posters in his dorm, she explains in the video.
“Bet next time he’s more specific,” she said while pointing the camera to the cutout of herself.
@jillwagner81 @Hakin Wagner you want to pick out your own next time?😂 #maryvilleuniversity #stlouis #college #freshman
In a second video, Hakin is seen laughing in disbelief as soon as he enters his dorm room.
“Honey, I know you’re gonna miss me so much; I got a life-size picture of me for your dorm,” his mother joked.
His father asked where he would like to keep the cutout.
“Somewhere out where nobody can ever see it,” Hakin replied, smiling.
“That way, if any girls try to come in your room, they can see me,” Jill added.
“That is so embarrassing,” her son replied.
Hakin had a similar reaction when he noticed the small poster of his father put up over his laundry hamper.
@jillwagner81 @Hakin Wagner Dad and i are always with you😂 #maryville #moveinday #college
Jill is an influencer who focuses on family-related content. She currently has 1.8 million followers on TikTok, while her son has a following of nearly 100,000. In the past, Jill has made content about her family, including videos about how she and her husband adopted Hakin.
“I appreciate the gesture, you know, because she brought me in at a young age and has taken care of me all my life, and she never wants to leave me because I was the last child to leave,” Hakin told Insider. “She just wanted to be a part of my college experience as much as she can.”
The student says the prank genuinely took him aback, and he found it funny. He added that they are “full of crazy shenanigans” and “always doing something that’s extravagant.”
He also told the news outlet that he plans to keep the poster and cutout up.
