At only 8 years old, Jaliyah Manuel has been wowing audiences on social media with her insane basketball talents for over two years. She’s using her platform to share her singular goal with the world — she wants to be the first woman to play in the NBA.
Though her Instagram account (brimming with spectacular feats) is run by her parents, it’s Jaliyah whose pushing herself to greatness every day. The straight-A student from Belle Chasse, Louisiana, insists that she’s not even allowed to practice unless her grades are up to the standards of her parents. Speaking to USA Today, the phenom shared, "If I don't make good grades, I don't practice. If I do make good grades, then I do practice."
Videos such as the one below show a mastery of ball handling agility that few high schoolers possess.
However, her holistic training extends to plyometrics and strength training, as Jaliyah boasts a 30-inch vertical leap and enough endurance to seemingly run circles around any poor soul tasked with defending her.
Her enthusiasm for the sport, in tandem with her demonstrated physical gifts, has led her to develop her own drills that are being re-taught by coaches for older players. "I'm having professional trainers tell me they're using her drills,” said Jovan Manuel, her father.
Jaliyah has garnered celebrity at a young age, and her SportsCenter appearance has led to autograph requests. The autographs were a tricky proposition when she was too young to know how to sign her name, but she quickly mastered that skill as well.
“I even know how to sign my name in cursive so I can sign it, like a basketball player," she said.
The road to high school and college, let alone the NBA, remains a long and uncertain one for Jaliyah, but it’s clear that she takes the journey quite seriously.
And if she doesn’t make it? Well, she’s an 8-year-old with a backup plan. Despite having already garnered interest from prep schools and University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball program, if this whole thing doesn’t work out, Jaliyah hopes to be a doctor or nurse.
This is an AI-generated image using the language "A beautiful woman with long eyelashes and red lips surrounded by swirls of colorful makeup." AI/Canva/Elyssa Goodman 
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
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Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
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.