Sympathy as a call to act

Perhaps you’ve read the Facebook entry that Sheryl Sandberg posted in early June, marking the end of the 30-day religious mourning period for her husband, Dave Goldberg. In it, she offers a powerful and deeply personal reflection on that first month and the lessons she’s only begun to learn. Her posting has gone viral, launching discussions about loss, grief and living.

What does this have to do with returning to college? Towards the end of her reflection, Sandberg writes “I am truly grateful to the many who have offered their sympathy. A colleague told me that his wife, whom I have never met, decided to show her support by going back to school to get her degree—something she had been putting off for years. Yes! When the circumstances allow, I believe as much as ever in leaning in.”

Enrolling in college isn’t a common expression of sympathy. But it’s certainly a thought-provoking one.

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