Mark Zuckerberg has jokes about being a college dropout. “If I get through this speech, it'll be the first time I actually finish something at Harvard,” he quipped on Thursday, during his commencement speech to the Ivy League university’s class of 2017. And while his speech touched on issues as varied as climate change and universal basic income, education took center stage.
Zuckerberg, who is worth $72 billion, told the audience that, “There is something wrong with our system when I can leave here and make billions of dollars in 10 years, while millions of students can't afford to pay off their loans, let alone start a business.”
He also described how his wife, Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg, worked as a teacher and asked him to spend some time teaching students so that he would understand the issues. “I complained: ‘Well, I'm kind of busy. I'm running this company.’ But she insisted, so I taught a middle school program on entrepreneurship at the local Boys and Girls Club,” he said.
Zuckerberg explained how he “taught lessons on product development and marketing, and they taught me what it's like feeling targeted for your race and having a family member in prison.” Five years later, those students will be enrolling in college in the fall. “Every one of them. First in their families,” he said.
But perhaps the most poignant part of the speech is toward the end where Zuckerberg gets choked up talking about how one of those students is undocumented. “It says something about our current situation that I can't even say his name because I don't want to put him at risk,” said Zuckerberg. “But if a high school senior who doesn't know what the future holds can do his part to move the world forward, then we owe it to the world to do our part too.”
After the speech, Zuckerberg wrote a note on Facebook explaining the main point of his speech was to emphasize that “the challenge for our generation is to create a world where every single person has a sense of purpose.” Oh, and it seems he can’t call himself a college dropout anymore. Harvard awarded him an honorary doctor of laws degree.
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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.