Character is what you show when no one else is looking.

It all started when Jose Nuñez Romaniz was buying socks for his grandfather. When the older man didn’t find what he was looking for in stores, Jose found him the right pairs online.

What he didn’t know was that this purchase, or what comes after it, will change his life forever. It was a test for his character which he passed with flying colors.

Jose drove to the bank and found something that would’ve made his hands tremble.

The teen just wanted to deposit money to finalize the transaction he had made for his grandfather. Then, he spotted a clear plastic bag on the ground just by the ATM machine. He looked closer to inspect what it was and was surprised at what he saw.

“I didn’t know what to do. I was, like, dreaming,” Nuñez told CNN. “I was just in shock. I was looking at myself and just thinking, ‘What should I do?’”

The teen found a bag of money containing wads of $50 and $20 bills.

If it was any lesser man, they would’ve invoked the playground rules of finders-keepers. Not Jose, however. He said that keeping the money never crossed his mind.

He admitted, however, that it was scary. He thought that it was some kind of trick, or that someone was watching and was about to kidnap him.

Jose then called the Albuquerque police station.

Two officers arrived at the scene, giving the teenager the chance to hand over the money. According to the police, the bag contained $135,000.

That amount of money could’ve changed his life, but at that moment, Jose chose the path of honesty and integrity, which was lauded by the police force. There were also things that swayed his decision.

Jose recalled two things: his father’s words and his mother’s chancla.

Jose grew up in a tightly-knit Latino family. His parents have always taught him the value of honesty and hard work. His father said that stolen money would never last.

As he tried to grasp the situation, the voice of his mother rang in his head and her chancla. In Latino family culture, this pertains to being hit by slippers if youngsters misbehave.

His integrity and good deed didn’t go unnoticed.

Jose, who studied at Central New Mexico Community College, wanted to take up criminal justice. The police chief then invited him for a job as a public service aide.

ESPN Radio 101.7 FM also gave him signed sports memorabilia and season tickets. Local businesses also rewarded him with cash and gift cards.

His actions are not only a testament to his character but to his family’s as well.

His family emigrated from Mexico in the late 90s. His parents were onion farm workers. His father worked odd jobs as well after migrating.

Through hard work, they managed to teach Jose the value of honesty. And when the opportunity presented itself, Jose chose the right thing.

“She told me I did the right thing and that she was proud of me,” Jose told CNN about his mom. “She called me and almost started crying.”

Watch what a teen did when he found a bag containing $135,000 cash.

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Source: YouTube – KRQE, CNN, Facebook – Albuquerque Police Department