A psychology professor is proving just how powerful a positive attitude can be, while earning viral fame, with a simple – yet very effective – daily greetings to his students that is helping him to maintain a positive attitude as he battles cancer.
Dr. Chris Dula, a 48-year-old professor at East Tennessee State University teaches a class of 320 students and manages to spread some happiness to every one of them when he steps into his lecture hall by shouting a booming ‘Hello!’ across the room.
So famous are his greetings on campus that one student, 19-year-old Evan Dennis, decided to post a video compilation of several classes’ worth in a tweet that has now gone viral, racking up 150,000 views, and more than 1,400 retweets, and 4,300 likes.
HELLO! Psychology professor, Dr. Chris Dula (pictured) greets his class every morning with an enthusiastic hello and that’s just one of the many reasons why his students love him
Viral: His student, Evan Dennis, 19, posted a compilation video of his booming greetings and it already has 150,000 views and counting with over 1,400 retweets and 4,300 likes
Evan recorded his professor screaming ‘HELLO!’ from his podium in class on multiple occasions and then compiled them together in a hilarious video.
He posted the compilation saying, ‘This is how my psychology professor, begins every class and I love it. He has a very inspiring story! Everyone RT this to get him on The Ellen Show. #GetDulaOnEllen’
When the class is about to begin, the professor screams hello very enthusiastically on the top of his lungs to the large lecture auditorium but the best part about the video is the fact that the entire classroom screams hello back.
While ETSU students love Dula because of his energy, he is also respected for his positive attitude despite his recent battle with cancer.
Professor Dula, a self-published author, responded to Evan’s tweet saying, ‘You rock Evan and your support and creativity are greatly appreciated!’
Professor: The 48-year-old professor (pictured) at East Tennessee State University teaches a class of 320 students and his infectious enthusiasm is loved by many
Amazing: While ETSU students love Dula (pictured) because of his energy, he is also respected for his positive attitude despite his recent battle with cancer
Other users who know him personally responded to the video with one person saying, ‘Amazing professor and an even better person.’
One person even wrote, ‘The best teacher. The best,’ while another wrote, ‘What a champ.’
Some people who don’t know Dula personally but were moved by the sweet video chimed in on the comments with one girl joking, ‘I want everyone to greet me like this.’
‘I think this is great. Little things like can make all the difference in the classroom,’ said one man in response to the video.
Respect: One user commented on the video saying the professor is such a champ
Students: A former student of Dula’s shared how much she loves him
Funny: One girl joked that she wished everyone would greet her the way Dula does
Dula, from North Carolina, shared with BuzzFeed News that his pre-class ritual is due to the fact that he turned his life around and cleaned up his act after being an alcoholic when he was younger.
He continued saying that he teaching has always been his ‘true calling’ and he wanted to enjoy every minute of it.
‘I knew the characteristic behaviors and attitudes of those I considered to be the best teachers,’ he shared.
‘So, when I became a college instructor I made it my mission to be as helpful, as interesting, and as effective as possible.’
Amazing: This man shared how great the professor’s energy is and how it makes a difference
Sick: Unfortunately, Dula (pictured) was diagnosed with brain cancer recently and told he needed surgery but has received an outpouring of support
Unfortunately, Dula was diagnosed with brain cancer a little while after his first book, Experiments in Life, was published and he was told he needed surgery.
Since his diagnosis, he has received an outpouring of messages and support from all different people including past and present students as well as complete strangers.
Ever since his student Evan posted the video, he has become somewhat of an internet sensation and is using his popularity to share updates on his cancer treatments via Twitter and YouTube.
‘People have been kind enough to share my posts and retweet my tweets,’ he shared with BuzzFeed.
‘Evan just thought to do his video tweet on his own in support of the effort, and I’ve been blown away by the reception.’