Wil Wheaton responded to a fan 21 years later

Back in 1988, during the popularity of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Wil Wheaton had a fan club

Fan clubs were popular during those times, and Wil Wheaton’s, called WilPower, attracted a lot of young fans who were following the teenage actor on The Next Generation. Unfortunately for one eight-year-old fan, Teresa Jusino, her request to join the fan club got lost in the mail or disappeared in the ether. Either way, it never made its way to Wheaton…until 21 years later.

Somehow, Jusino’s membership application was discovered, and Wheaton took the time to put together a membership packet that included a card certifying her as an official member of the club, a wallet-sized photo, and a picture that showed the now 29-year-old Teresa how much Wheaton loves Batman.

His sweet response to Jusino also included a bit of advice and a look into the future as he told her when she grew up, she was going to be a great writer. He urged her to stay in school, to always do her best, and to treat people the way they wanted to be treated.

Jusino responded to the kind gesture by saying, “He gets a big thank you from Twenty-Nine Year Old Me. Don’t get me wrong. Eight Year Old Me is very, very pleased. But Twenty-Nine Year Old Me better knows the importance of a kind gesture, and hopes that her gratitude carries more weight.”

Wil Wheaton could have discarded the discovered packet. Instead, he chose to honor the request of the eight-year-old girl still inside of Teresa Jusino. This one, simple action showed a level of kindness that makes us all understand why the former Wesley Crusher still has so many fans and remains close to his The Next Generation costars. What a classy response to an overlooked piece of fan mail.