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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.

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Mitch Albom on What It Means to Be a Real Father to a Special Orphan

What is a real father? An orphan in Haiti teaches ­­bestselling author Mitch Albom a wonderful new definition.

A Teacher Told Her Students to Draw What They Were Thankful for—This Was One Student’s Moving ...

As this teacher learned, some of the most moving lessons are taught by students.


17 Reasons My Favorite Teacher Changed My Life

It only takes one person to make a difference in the life of another—and teachers are often that person. Check...


One Father’s Battle Between Working and Giving Attention to His Daughter

In this award-winning story, originally published in Reader's Digest in 1969, a father learns to embrace the chaos of his...


15 Cringe-Worthy Stories About the Worst Roommates Ever

And you thought it was bad when your roommates forgot to clean their dishes.

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Real Teachers Reveal What It’s Like Teaching a Genius

If you spend enough time teaching, you're bound to eventually encounter a student with truly unbelievable brainpower. Here's how 10...

These High Schoolers Wrote Letters to Kurt Vonnegut. This Is What They Got in Response.

Your homework assignment from a famous novelist: Make art. Then destroy it.


“Pull Yourself Together!”: Rob Lowe on the Unexpected Tears of Sending His Son to College

The Emmy award-winning actor had no idea how hard it would be to send his favorite Patriots fan off to...


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The Unforgettable Legacy of Miss Bessie Taylor Gwynn

The lessons she taught went far beyond the three Rs.