1. Mott Hall Bridges Academy

“Who’s influenced you the most in your life?”
“My principal, Ms. Lopez.”
“How has she influenced you?”
“When we get in trouble, she doesn’t suspend us. She calls us to her office and explains to us how society was built down around us. And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built. And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of us that we matter.”

This story really, really got me. Just one picture Brandon took and over a million dollars was raised for education for Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brooklyn. Principal Nadia Lopez showed how transformative leadership can shape young lives. You can learn more about the school's ongoing mission at the official Mott Hall Bridges Academy site or read up on the original viral aftermath on humansofnewyork.com.

2. Chris Shaw

“I’ve watched a lot of people who did worse than me in art school go on to have their own shows, and I’ve decided that some people just know how to make moves. I always hoped that after I graduated, someone would discover me, but it doesn’t really work that way. You have to network and create opportunities, but I’m not good at that, because I get nervous and overly quiet in social situations. I normally end up getting discouraged, and going back to my basement to paint.”

Brandon took this photo back in January, shared Chris' name and guess what? It helped this particular artist get a leg up in the world and really get his art out there. How cool is that? It proves that sometimes sharing your honest vulnerability can spark unexpected support, much like the courage seen in other emotional stories of openness.

3. Never Lay a Hand …

“Never laid a hand on her. And that was huge for me. Because it was always the first thing my dad did.”

How powerful is that to share that in a group of millions? I'm so, so proud of this dad, whoever he is. Never, ever lay a hand on your child, no matter how you were raised. Breaking generational cycles requires conscious effort and deep compassion. Key steps in breaking cycles include:

4. It Gets Real …

“She’s a mother in name only. We get in fights, but she’s always so drunk that she never remembers them. We live in the same house, but haven’t had a real conversation in over a year.”

It's so hard to read things like this, but it's great that it can be all out there. Admitting and owning up to things is the first step. Being honest about painful family realities can be terrifying, but acknowledgement is essential for healing, just as seen in breaking painful family patterns.

5. Pro Choice

“My girlfriend and I aborted a child a couple of weeks ago.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“We didn’t lose anything. It was a choice.”
“Were both of you equally on board with the decision?”
“She followed my lead, which made it tougher I guess. But I’ve got so much going on right now, and she just opened her own theater show. It’s just not the right time.”
“How’s the aftermath been?”
“You know, I always thought of abortion as a common thing. I’m a liberal guy. Pro-choice and everything. But I never imagined how bloody painful it was going to be.”
“Do you mind if I post your story?”
“With my picture? I’d prefer not.”

This is so inspiring, just because you make the choice doesn't mean that it won't be hard later on. Complex emotional decisions carry weight, and acknowledging grief alongside personal choices is a crucial part of emotional maturity.

6. Coming out

“We’d been having a sort of tacit conversation about it for a couple years. Then one day, his sister, who already knew, was teasing him about having a crush on a boy at school. And I heard him say: ‘Well, maybe it’s true!’ So I said: 'Son, we’ve never really talked about this. Are you gay?’ And even though he was 6'4”, he came over to me, curled up in my lap and just sobbed and sobbed. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life, actually.“

When I came out to my mom, it was in the middle of Olive Garden and I said that I fell in love with a girl – this is a beautiful story and definitely inspiring! Parental acceptance creates an unbreakable foundation of trust and safety for young people navigating identity.

7. Falling in Love

“We were best friends in high school.”
“Did you both know the other was gay?”
“I knew she was. She didn’t know I was.”
“So how did she find out?”
“I wrote her a love letter.”

This is such an adorable story! It's about love, relationships and figuring out your best friend! Taking a leap of faith for love takes courage, as seen across many inspiring community moments.

Why stories like these resonate so deeply with millions:

So, now that you've seen MY top HONY stories that inspired me, what about you? What's your favorite? Did you get sucked into Brandon's project for hours on end too? Feel free to explore more work directly on the official Humans of New York Instagram page as well!