Stories on: Grief

Young people today are experiencing losses of all types—mourning the death of a loved one, grieving the death of Black men and women at the hands of police, experiencing homelessness and migration. Many YC writers have written about loss and letting go—whether it’s dealing with the death of a friend or loved one, letting go of a relationship or an identity you’ve outgrown, or losing a home or a way of being. Our writers have also focused on resilience—on the strengths they developed or relied upon to get through difficult times, the people who helped them or the places and things that brought them joy.

Feature Story

The Good in Grieving

Dealing with the death of loved ones is hard, but I learned that isolation and hiding emotions don’t help.

by Zainab Hamid

When I was 5, I moved to Bangladesh from the U.S. This enabled me to spend more time with my grandparents: Abdur and Amena on my father’s side; Misbahul and Samsun on my mother’s. I loved and cherished my time with my grandparents.

Recent Stories

Navigating the Gray

By Anonymous

I had a harmful relationship with my teacher when I was 12 and 13 years old, but it’s not black and white.
What We Left Behind

By Jasmine Huang

Losing my great-grandmother made me realize how much of her still lives on—in my family, and in me.
I Didn’t Think I’d Grieve My Dog

By Camila Ritter

The death of my dog forced me to look at grief in a new light.

bereavement & belonging toolkit

in partnership with the new york life foundation

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Resources on Grief

National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG)
- national non-profit

Dougy
- portland based non-profit and crisis hotline

Good Grief
- NJ based non-profit

COPE
- ny based non-profit and crisis hotline

Imagine
- nj based non-profit

Emma’s Place
- staten island based non-profit

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More Stories

Navigating the Gray

By Anonymous

I had a harmful relationship with my teacher when I was 12 and 13 years old, but it’s not black and white.
What We Left Behind

By Jasmine Huang

Losing my great-grandmother made me realize how much of her still lives on—in my family, and in me.
I Didn’t Think I’d Grieve My Dog

By Camila Ritter

The death of my dog forced me to look at grief in a new light.
Red Reborn

By Emily Cancel

Therapy shows me that emotions aren’t weapons to be feared but rather signals to be understood.
Swallowing Ashes

By Iris P.

Grief never goes away, but I learned to live with it.
Now, I’m a Proud Full-Time Hijabi

By I. I.

The murder of my beloved imam galvanized my community to protest against Islamophobia.
Learning to Trust Myself

By Anonymous

After going into care, I’m building better relationships.
Home in My Heart

By Arina Limarieva

I had to flee two Russian invasions, but I keep Ukraine close

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