Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg urges Cal graduates to be resilient

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, spoke to 4,700 graduating seniors at UC Berkeley Saturday morning, encouraging them to not only lean in but to persevere, even in life’s tragic, unjust moments.

When setbacks happen in life, some people blame themselves for what happened, believe it affects all aspects of their lives or feel the sadness is permanent.

[...] I also learned that when life sucks you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface and breathe again, Sandberg said.

[...] instead of focusing on the setbacks, Sandberg encouraged the graduating seniors to embrace gratitude and appreciate life’s blessings.

Shortly before Mother’s Day, Sandberg acknowledged single mothers in a Facebook post.

“Some people felt that I did not spend enough time writing about the difficulties women face when they have an unsupportive partner or no partner at all,” Sandberg wrote.

In addition to the graduating seniors, the event also drew more than 25,000 guests, faculty and staff.

Family and friends of the graduates packed the stadium, armed with binoculars, smartphones and cameras to get a close look at their favorite UC Berkeley students.

Graduation music, including “Pomp and Circumstance” played, as the students walked to their seats sporting graduation caps.