Amid the roller coasters and ragers is one of the most touching moments in "Look Mom I Can Fly," rapper Travis Scott's Netflix documentary that was released at the end of last month.
The Houston Chronicle reports he's reunited backstage with his high school principal and guidance counselor. Scott is jolted to see Sarah Fuller Luna, his counselor at Elkins High School, and lets out a high-pitched scream.
"I couldn't graduate school unless it was for this girl right here," Scott says. "Oh, my God, she saved my life in high school. Like, real life."
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The meeting was a surprise set up by Scott's mother a few years ago at a Revention Music Center concert. It's a rare public moment of vulnerability for the Houston rapper known for his aggressively high-energy shows.
"She told me he was gonna be somebody," Scott's mother says through tears.
Luna taught English literature for six years at Elkins and then spent another six years as a counselor. That's when she met Scott, whom she refers to as Jacques. His birth name is Jacques Bermon Webster II.
"Jacques had a spark in him that made him move through the world with great, boundless energy, motivation, creativity and genius. I felt a strong sense that no matter what he did or put his focus on, he would be great at it and most likely pave a very unique path for himself because he was and is so driven," Luna says. She's currently director of wellness at St. Agnes Academy in Houston.
"Look Mom I Can Fly" chronicles the breakneck pace of a superstar who exploded out of the Bayou City in 2014 with the hit track "Antidote," the No. 1 album "Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight" in 2016 and especially his Grammy-nominated third album from 2018, "Astroworld," which includes the No. 1 single "Sicko Mode." Yet for all of his commercial success, he isn't afraid to push against genre norms. It's created a fan base that doesn't just listen to the music. It idolizes him and is inspired by Scott's energy and experiences.
"I am grateful to see that people are learning how grounded he is. That his heart is big, caring and that he possesses a great sense of humanity. He was that way even as a teenager," Luna says. "He deserves this kind of recognition."
Luna knew the reunion was being filmed, but she wasn't sure if it would make the documentary. Another former student saw it and alerted her. She's "really humbled" that Scott felt it was important enough to include in the final product.
"I am still wrapping my mind around his thoughtful nod to his educators, who he knows cared about him," she says.
She's followed Scott's career and says she and her teenage daughter love his music. They frequently play Scott's music in the car. Luna's favorite songs are "Goosebumps," "Pick Up the Phone" and "Sicko Mode," whose video was filmed in Houston.
But mostly, she's just proud of a student she knew was destined for bigger things.
"I love seeing him perform because it reminds me of how one never really loses their spirit and energy even as people grow and change. It's really a beautiful thing for me to watch. I am proud of him," Luna says. "I am not surprised that he has used his drive and creativity to propel himself into popular world culture. He connects with all kinds of people from all imaginable backgrounds, and I have enjoyed watching this all unfold for him. I have enjoyed watching him love on his fans, inviting them onstage and launching them off to crowd-surf. It all speaks to his humanity and generosity."
