When Marvin Wright became president of the senior class at Southwest Edgecombe High in Pinetops, North Carolina, last fall, he was told that he’d have to give a speech at graduation in June. But Wright’s joy over finishing high school and addressing his classmates was marred last Friday. After Wright chose to deliver his own heartfelt speech instead of an administrator-penned five-sentence paragraph, the school withheld his diploma.
[quote position="left" is_quote="true"]I feel like it violated the First Amendment.[/quote]
Now concerns about alleged censorship and retaliation on the part of the school have sparked a controversy in Edgecombe County, which is about an hour east of Raleigh. “From what I learned in class, I feel like it violated the First Amendment,” Wright told The Wilson Times. “I couldn’t say what I wanted to say and when I tried to say what I wanted to say, there was consequences.”
After Wright read his speech and the ceremony concluded, the graduates picked up folders containing their diplomas, transcripts, and report cards. But there was no folder for Wright, who was told that the school principal, Craig Harris, had removed it because he read his own speech.
“I was upset and embarrassed,” said Wright. “All of the seniors was walking around with their bright orange folders and I, being the last one in my class, (was) walking out with nothing in my hand.” The teen didn’t get his diploma until Sunday afternoon, when Harris dropped it off at his house.
The 18-year-old told The Washington Post that he worked on his speech for two weeks, had it approved by his English teacher, and left a copy on Harris’ desk. However, Wright said he was told at graduation practice that he wouldn’t be allowed to deliver the speech, with no explanation why.
[quote position="left" is_quote="true"]As senior class president, I think I should read my own speech.[/quote]
At the ceremony, instead of Wright’s speech, a folder containing a paragraph written by the school was on the podium. But rather than reading the school’s remarks, Wright pulled out his phone, pulled up a digital copy of his speech, and read it from the device.
“I was like, ‘I really worked hard on this speech and as senior class president, I think I should read my own speech,’ and they was like, ‘No, this is what you are going to read,’” he told the Times.
Wright’s speech covered tried-and-true ground. He thanked God, his family, and the faculty at Southwest, and he referenced shared experiences familiar to the graduating students, like their “first Friday Night Lights football game in which we were able to stay out late and hang with our friends.”
In a statement to the Times, Superintendent John Farrelly said that he didn’t have issues with the content of Wright’s speech. “There is an expectation that is communicated to all graduation speakers that the prepared and practiced speech is the speech to be delivered during the ceremony. That was made extremely clear to the speakers,” said Farrelly.
When the teen’s mother, Jokita Wright, complained to Principal Harris, the administrator said that her son had missed a submission deadline. Marvin Wright told the Post he wasn’t informed of a deadline. Indeed, if the school’s class president normally gives a graduation speech, wouldn’t the staff member assigned to work with that student make sure that everything is on track?
Farrelly acknowledged that it was wrong for the school to withhold Wright’s diploma, but he also took issue with Wright using his phone on stage. “There is a communicated expectation to all of the speakers that no electronic devices are allowed,” he said. “The student did not follow those expectations.”
But if Wright’s speech had been in the folder, he wouldn’t have had to use his phone.
As the news of what happened to Wright spreads, the school’s Facebook page is being bombarded by outraged commenters. Some folks are suggesting that Wright sue the school, but most are disturbed by what they see as unecessary “vindictiveness” and the silencing of a student’s voice.
“His skill, confidence, and writing with clarity, emotion, and positive humor is a positive reflection on the quality of the Edgecombe County Public Schools,” wrote Facebook commenter Joan Baille Almerini. “He makes your programs look good, you should be proud of him and his initiative in writing such a heartfelt yet polished piece to honor his school. As an educator myself, I would be proud of having a former student give a speech like this.”
As for what comes next for Wright, it seems he will be defending democracy. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Monday.
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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.