Get Griefy Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Kera Sanchez, brings over 15 years of experience as a high school educator— 13 years in the classroom as a Spanish teacher, and nearly two years serving as a Dean of Student Attendance.

In her most recent role, she worked closely with students to uncover the reasons behind chronic absenteeism, striving to bridge those gaps and create more opportunities for them to stay engaged with their education and their futures.

What she discovered was heartbreaking: many students were quietly giving up on their futures because of their pasts.

So many were carrying grief and loss without even realizing it. While some had experienced the death of a loved one, others were grieving less visible but equally profound losses—lack of acceptance among peers, strained or broken family relationships, a loss of identity, or the absence of confidence in their ability to succeed.

Grief was often the reason students stopped showing up—not just at school, but in life. But what if grief could also be the reason they begin to show up again?

What if adolescents across the United States and beyond had access to resources that normalize their experiences, validate their emotions, and offer hope? That remind them that while they may have experienced loss, there is still so much to gain.

This issue of Get Griefy Magazine is being thoughtfully created with kids and families at its heart. Our goal is to provide a meaningful, accessible resource for those navigating grief—and for the communities who support them.

We can’t wait to share it with those who need it most.