Celebrating Failure

1) Tell us about a time this past semester that you failed -- whether in this class, or outside of this class. Don't spare any details! It'd be even better if there was something you tried several times this semester, and failed each time. 
The one thing I’ve failed to do this semester was wake up in time for my morning class. My class is at 10:40am, which doesn’t seem too early or too late. However, upon taking 18 credits this semester, tests and exams for each class start piling up. Therefore, I am always up until 6am studying for each class. My exams for each class alternate every week, so there is never a moment in my life where I can take a breather. It becomes really stressful and balancing my sorority (social life) and my clubs (academic life) becomes a real struggle. I’ve had to sacrifice my social life many times, but I have always put my academics first. Unfortunately though, sleeping at 6am every day ends up making me late to my morning class. I have even missed a couple quizzes because of it. I have yet to make it in time to my morning class ONCE before interrupting the professor by walking through the front door.

2) Tell us what you learned from it.  
I learned that sacrifices need to be made. Not only did I sacrifice my social life for good grades, but I also had to sacrifice going to my morning class from time to time. It all really comes down to choosing what matters more to you: the good grade on your Organic Chemistry 2 exam or sleep? Honestly, it sounds terrible, but you do what needs to be done. I try to catch up on my lack of sleep on the weekends (assuming I don’t have an exam Monday).

3) Reflect, in general, on what you think about failure. 
Failure is really rough. Nobody fails and feels proud on the inside. Failure just points out the gray areas in your life that you can learn from and change. Failing something in life can be emotionally devastating for an individual. However, we must tell ourselves that it is not the end of the world. There will be up and downs. There will be brighter days to come. Hey, it can only get better from here right? It’s all how you look at it. You must have the right perspective in mind to get back up from falling to try again or move on. This class has changed my perspective on failure because it taught me that success is what you make of it. If you put in the time and effort, the chance of you failing the course is minimal. However, even if you do fail (to complete an assignment) you have to get back up. The only way to redeem yourself is to not make that same mistake in the future. If the same mistake is made, so be it, and there will be better days to come. Failing can either hinder you or cause you to work harder to succeed. It’s all how you look at it.