NOTE FROM THE EDITORS: THIS GOAL HAS BEEN MET! BUT YOU CAN GIVE TO ANOTHER WORTHY CAUSE HERE.
From December 14 through December 25, GOOD Sports will feature the worthiest school athletic programs in need of funding.
As the ISS (in-school suspension) instructor at Brogden Middle School in Durham, North Carolina, Carla Kirkland helps students manage academic, behavioral, and emotional problems. She’s also the girls' soccer coach. From her perspective, the two jobs go hand in hand.
They're not ‘bad kids.’ They just need to be dealt with creatively. That's one reason it's so important for them to play team sports. They need to be able to be a part of a group that will instill in them a sense of respect and a healthy dose of self-esteem. They get this by playing team sports here at school. Through playing on a team, they earn respect and find value.
Unfortunately Brogden has a “nonexistent” athletic department budget, Kirkland writes on DonorsChoose.org. It doesn’t help that the Durham School Board cut $15 million from the district’s budget in April, part of a nationwide trend of educational austerity.
Heading into the new season, Kirkland started an online campaign to raise money for the soccer program, which hasn’t replaced its shorts, socks, balls, pinnies, or any other equipment in five years.
By donating to my project, you'll give my students a heightened sense of school pride, self-confidence, and a desire to be a leader. They will be able to act like a leader both on and off the field. People will look up to them and listen to them because of their awesome abilities. Please help me help my students!
The team needs $851 for new jersey kits and gear, and they’re only $481 from the target. You have21 days left to help. You can donate here.
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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.