Clubs across Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 with all of the players and on-field personnel in the league wearing the late baseball Hall of Famer and activist Jackie Robinson’s iconic number, 42.
Throughout the league, practice attire and various uniform elements featured a 42 logo, and on-field pregame ceremonies took place — some of which included Jackie Robinson Day Foundation Scholars — as well as activities in some of the clubs’ respective communities.
Robinson’s wife, Rachel Robinson, and their daughter and son, Sharon and David, attended Jackie Robinson Day ceremonies at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, sharing Jackie’s story of breaking the color barrier in baseball more than 70 years ago — and how his courage changed sports and civil rights in America.
But Robinson knew his legacy wasn’t just about influencing the treatment of athletes that came after him. He urged the league to consider broader steps toward equality in management and ownership of baseball teams, recognizing that sustainable change would come only from leadership that embraced his ideals.
50 years later, the “Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life” essay contest and educational program developed in 1997 by the MLB, Scholastic, and Sharon Robinson, utilizes baseball as a metaphor for life to help support and develop future leaders to carry on in Robinson’s footsteps.
It’s based on his values: Citizenship, commitment, courage, determination, excellence, integrity, justice, persistence, and teamwork, and has reached more than 34 million youth and 4.6 million educators in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The program’s annual essay contest provides opportunities for students from all backgrounds in from fourth grade through ninth to submit an essay about barriers or obstacles in their lives, and how they used the values exemplified by Robinson to face those obstacles.
[new_image position="standard" id="null"]Sharon Robinson and 2017 Grand Prize Winner of the “Breaking Barriers” essay contest, Tank Wright (7-9th grade; Sylacauga, Alabama). Photo courtesy of Major League Baseball.[/new_image]
After receiving thousands of essays from all over the country, this year’s grand prize winning submissions focused on compelling stories about escaping war-torn Eritrea, Africa, and living with a challenging physical condition, written by Selihom Kidane from Charlotte, North Carolina, (fifth grade) and Jesse Quist from Cheyenne, Wyoming. (ninth grade), respectively.
The 2018 Breaking Barriers essay contest is also recognizing eight additional national winners. Each of the winners will receive a new laptop computer (courtesy of Microsoft) and additional prizes for their classes, including Breaking Barriers T-shirts and books written by Sharon Robinson.
“The extraordinary perseverance and inner strength that these children have demonstrated in their young lives is inspiring,” said Sharon Robinson in a statement. “The winners, along with everyone who submitted essays, continue to exemplify the true meaning of the Breaking Barriers program.” Robinson is the author of several widely-praised books for children. In her novel, “The Hero Two Doors Down,” she tells the story of Stephen Satlow, a young Dodgers fan in the 1940s, who befriended the great Jackie Robinson after his family moved to Satlow’s all-Jewish neighborhood.
Say goodbye or make amends.Image via Canva - Photo by Inna Postnikova
Friends recording on a camcorder.Image via Canva - Photo by capturenow
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
Happy volunteersCanva
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.