There’s a big difference between following the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. One North Carolina high school may have put the educational future of a straight-A student in jeopardy after a questionable call on a dress code violation. Summer, a senior at Hickory Ridge High School, was asked to cover up for wearing the shirt pictured below. According to school policy it fails to “adequately cover the upper body, including the shoulders.”
Although the shirt in question does not expose Summer’s shoulders, the principal asked her to cover up, so she borrowed a friend’s jacket. But this wasn’t enough, and the principal then asked Summer to go to her office to change. Summer has had previous problems with the principal, so she asked to have her mother on the phone. While she waited for her mother to return her call, the principal summoned a security guard.
“The security guard was within five feet of me,” Summer told WCNC. “He had his hand on his gun. The principal said, ‘I’m gonna give you an ultimatum. We have tried to call your mother. You either come with me to the control room to change your shirt or we will arrest you.’” Summer refused and was suspended for “insubordination” and told she cannot walk at graduation.
Summer has a 4.4 GPA and multiple scholarship offers which the disciplinary action has now put in danger. “A full ride means so much and that is on the line right now,” she told WCNC. “It’s just sad because I worked so hard for four years to walk across that stage. … We have drug dealers walking across that stage, and we have sex offenders walking across that stage, and then the 4.4 student who showed her shoulders can’t.” Summer’s mother plans to appeal the suspension.
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We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.