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    Real Life Stories

    You’ve got to read it to believe it! These true stories seem almost too good to be true, but we promise that we couldn’t make these up. From love to loss and from survival to unbelieavable coincidences—we’ve got the wildest stories to keep you informed, entertained, and inspired.

    What It’s Really Like to Protest in a Small Town

    It’s not all big, energized crowds and visible progress. In some parts of the country,...
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    Racism in Healthcare: What It’s Like Giving Birth as a Black Woman

    A mother of one and a lawyer in Atlanta shares how racism in healthcare nearly...

    This 11-Year-Old Mows Lawns to Raise Money for Social Justice

    Meet Jack, a young boy giving up the money from his summer job to support...

    How I Escaped from Cuba in 1969 in the Wheel Well of a Jet

    This RD classic from 50 years ago tells the thrilling story of a teen who...

    A Girl Wrote a Simple Thank You Note to Her Postman and Got Hundreds of Responses

    The appreciation delivered by an 11-year-old girl is returned to sender—from grateful postal service employees...

    A 14-Year-Old Boy Helped Save Another Boy’s Life After Meeting Him Through a Video Game

    The friendships that teens build online can be stronger than you think.

    This Tattoo Artist Helps People with Scars Love Their Body Again

    The first fingernail tattoos started off as a joke—but soon he was getting the attention...
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    How I Visited 20 Countries in One Year for $250 a Week

    Country-hopping doesn't have to bring you to the brink of broke. You just have to...

    I’m an International Student at Dickinson College—Now I’m Anxious About My Future

    The future of many international students was thrown into flux when the Trump administration changed...

    27 Profoundly Inspiring Quotes from Everyday Americans Making the Best of a Tough Year

    A year of pandemics, police shootings, and racial protests didn’t get their spirits down. These...

    Here’s How I Survived a Shark Attack

    Mike Coots was surfing with his buddies near his home in Kauai when he was...

    10 People Who Literally Came Back to Life

    Thanks to state of the art medical technology—like defibrillators in nearly every place of business—life...

    When 20 Miners Became Stranded in an Elevator Shaft, One Man Transported Them All to Safety

    Below the trapped miners was an empty elevator shaft, 2,000 feet deep. Only the strength...

    21 Extraordinary Stories of Generosity That Will Stay with You

    These acts of kindness—big and small—speak to the generosity of the American spirit.

    I Broke Up with My Best Friend Because We Couldn’t Agree on Black Lives Matter

    This cause is simply too important to just "agree to disagree," even to keep an...

    13 Oddest Ways People Have Made $1 Million

    From viral memes to miracle mops, we rounded up the craziest ways people have made...

    My Immigrant Family Took on White-Sounding Names—And Here’s Why That’s a Problem

    Is an Anglicized name key to a successful life in America? The issue is complex.

    12 LGBTQ Activists Who Have Changed American History

    It's hard to imagine where gay pride would be without the work and efforts of...

    Why It’s So Much Harder for Black Women to Make It in the Fashion World

    A Black model explains why increasing diversity doesn’t just help those in the industry—it ensures...

    Americans Surprisingly United Locally—Though Nationally, Divided as Ever, Survey Shows

    Americans feel more unity with those in their local communities, even as they see the country...

    How a Boy Scout Nearly Drowned to Fight Racism in His Troop

    One Moth storyteller explains the courage it took to accomplish what no one thought he...
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    13 True Stories That Show What Happens When You Don’t Social-Distance

    Before you dismiss the guidelines as silly or unnecessary, read this.
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    I Was Isolated for a Year in Antarctica—Here’s What Surprised Me Most When I Came Back

    While you may not have been quite this isolated over the last few months, reentry...

    Here’s What It’s Like to Be a Black Police Officer Right Now

    A black detective explains why tough conversations about policing are the first step toward real...

    Moving My Family to the “Worst” Place in America Was the Best Decision I Ever Made

    It started out as something of 
a joke—almost a dare. We’ve been living here for...