This message is in partnership with XQ Institute.
The first American public high school opened its doors 200 years ago. It was based upon the belief that high school, if free and available to all, would develop graduates who would be able to contribute to culture, society and the economy.
About 100 years after its inception, the system was overhauled to meet the demands of an industrialized, factory-based society. And it has stayed frozen in time ever since.
Radical and meaningful change is long overdue. We need to rethink the beliefs and the models upon which we’ve built these schools. We need to plan for a future where ideas are currency, where knowledge is highly valued.
XQ is a movement to challenge these old definitions of school, to illuminate how stagnant our system is, and most importantly, to create new thinking against entirely new models. It is a movement with one end goal: to create great interest on the part of all Americans to redefine the ways we prepare our students for the future.
XQ The Super School Project is an open call to reimagine — and then design — the next American high school. In towns and cities far and wide, teams will unite to rethink and build schools that deeply prepare our students for the rigorous challenges of college, jobs, and life in a rapidly changing global economy.
Over the next few months, we will accept proposals, and then a year from now, we will give the best of them the expert support and resources needed to become Super Schools.
Let’s rethink high school together.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
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Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
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.