In loving memory of Jane Goodall

Image via Bela Szandelszky/AP

As the sun sets on the jungles of Gombe, the world comes to terms with a deep loss. The cicadas, still humming after summer’s end, sound almost sad as we enter October. On the first of this month, primatologist Jane Goodall took her last breath. Not only was she a groundbreaking researcher, but she was an advocate for conservation as a whole. Her life, spanning over a vast 91 years, was dedicated to spreading hope. Fostering compassion for all living beings, Jane serves as an example for not only aspiring biologists, but as a role model for the vast majority of our population. 

No matter what you believe, what you have experienced, or who you might become, hope is something that will always follow you. This is something that Jane understood. In her advocacy, she highlights that as people, we are inclined towards dreaming. We have distinct visions for our future, and will often live in pursuit of a reality far from our own. Let Jane be an example in the closure of this distance. Her compassion, scientific rigor, and pioneering spirit, even in the face of societal norms that dismissed her approach, led to groundbreaking discoveries and a world wide movement for conservation and human rights. 

Even if she is gone, her message remains: hope is in human nature, and this pursuit of hope is pertinent to our survival. So, even if we send her off with a heavy heart, let’s remember Jane not with mourning, but with appreciation. After all, the cicadas—even in their grief—have yet to cease humming. 

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope” - Jane Goodall