Father surprises his daughter at the graduation ceremony with a book signed by the teachers

A New York father and his graduating daughter are making headlines after he surprised her with a thoughtful and special gift to mark her big milestone.

Brian Benson presented his eldest daughter Riley with a gift bag and filmed her reaction when she learned what was inside – a copy of Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” signed by her teachers and school staff over the course of 13 years. The video was posted to Instagram on June 22 and has received over 19,000 likes.

The father of two children told “Good Morning America” that he came up with the idea over ten years ago when his daughter was just starting kindergarten.

“‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go!’ seems like a perfect fit for the journey from elementary school to graduation and college. I thought it would be a great idea to have all the teachers and staff sign the book each year at the end of the school year,” Benson explained.

“Before the end of the school year, about a week before, I said (to the school counselor), ‘Hey, I’m bringing the book over. Can you give it to all the teachers and all the other staff, not just the teachers but everyone that Riley comes into contact with … and has a relationship with, and ask them to sign it?'” he said of the process he repeated year after year.

Benson said every school year they all “write something really beautiful and very thoughtful,” and that inspired him to do the same for his younger daughter.

Riley’s emotional reaction after receiving the signed book not only moved viewers on social media, but also her beloved father, who described the surprise as “a very big, proud father moment.”

“It made my heart smile to see how much joy it brought her,” he said.

Riley also told GMA that she had “no idea” about the book and was completely surprised about five minutes before she left for her high school graduation.

“I actually didn’t expect to cry, but then I started crying and had to re-do my makeup on the way to the graduation ceremony because it was such a thoughtful gift,” said the 17-year-old.

“I just thought it was really, really great and it must have taken up a lot of his life and it just meant a lot to me,” she added.

Riley said even though the signed book is already full of messages, she wants her father to sign it himself, too.

“I want to keep it as long as I live to show it to my children, and then I want to do it for my children,” she said.

For other young parents who want to be inspired by the surprise, Benson recommends starting the project early.

“It took 13 and 14 years, so it takes a lot of consistency. You have to put a lot of thought and planning in advance to make it work, and luckily it worked,” he said. “Just do what is important to you and what you will take with you when you give it to your loved ones.”