...The Failure That Saved Me Brittney Walker Suicide isn’t a foreign concept to me. I’ve been depressed since I was around 9 years old, so it makes sense that I’d be familiar with those type of thoughts. For a long time, starting in 7th grade, I was suicidal. Not actively so, thankfully, but at the point where I wouldn’t mind if someone murdered me. I was anxious, alone, and done with everything. My mind was made up; I wasn’t going to try because there was no point. I didn’t believe that I was worth fixing, nor that I was capable of being fixed. I refused any advice because I didn’t believe it would work. I didn’t believe anything would work. Death, in a way, comforted me – reminded me that there was an option aside from the bleak future I saw for myself....
Words: 714 - Pages: 3
...I learned that my whole life is not centered on a single test score, and I can still be a good student who had a bad day. I have realized that one test will not make or break me, and I have evolved out of the tunnel vision perfectionism I’ve had my whole life. I can’t lie and say I’m no longer a perfectionist –I definitely still am– but I can say I have learned to not let it take over my life. I may still religiously check my grades, but I don’t hate myself for getting anything below an A. I’m no longer constantly comparing myself to others in the class and feeling dejected when others earn a higher score. Ironically, this failure has raised my self-esteem and helped me grow as a person. While I still wish to be the best, I no longer place my entire self-worth on the title. I have learned that failure is inevitable and it will happen again in the future. Failure is often just a direct result of learning and will help me improve. Just because I experience failure does not mean that I am a failure. I think that is the most important realization of...
Words: 712 - Pages: 3
...Failure is a strong thing, it has a great effect on people. What's important is how you react to failure and what you take from it. One of my most memorable failures would be not making the high school baseball team. This had a lasting effect on me but it provided motivation for me which took me to greater things. So let’s start with my reaction. At first I did not take the news well, I was devastated. Baseball is my life and always has been. I thought about all the things that were gonna change with the absence of baseball in my life. As time went on the reality started to hit me that I probably would never play again. I panicked, I told my parents to transfer my school so I could play again. But what would that do? Chances are I might not...
Words: 292 - Pages: 2
...'A LEADER SHOULD KNOW HOW TO MANAGE FAILURE' Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam: India Knowledge at Wharton: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure? Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal. By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure. That day, the chairman of the Indian...
Words: 473 - Pages: 2
...Failure Is Good All my life I have tried to avoid failure. I viewed failure as giving up when you have no other option. My experience with failure was changed when I was in middle school. I have always been a little bit of a perfectionist, but I could never perfect my grades in school. It was a crisp, fall day, and the school year had just started. I am sitting in my student advisory, Mrs. Elfering. The halls were full of crazy, energetic students seeing each other for the first time all summer. The teachers also had a certain aura, which was exited for the New Year, but stoic because of the over-excited kids. Sixth grade was a new start for me, and I was trying to show my abilities in the classroom. Mrs. Elfering was going over the layout of the new school year, when she was almost done with the information, She lectured, “Learn from your mistakes and persevere through failure.”...
Words: 636 - Pages: 3
...Failure is something we learn from, it is something that makes us grow as a person. I am a firm believer that in order to be successful you need to fail along the way. When I think about a time that I experience failure, I automatically think about the math class that I failed my sophomore year of high school. Sophomore year was a bad year for me. I was always rather unhappy and because of this my grades were affected. Prior to this class school had always come easy to me, especially math. My school had just gotten laptops and teachers were encouraged to teach on the computer. I was not used to learning math on the computer so as a result, math class was a struggle for me. I was disheartened by the fact that I was not doing well in this class....
Words: 386 - Pages: 2
...Bill Cosby once said, "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure." In many ways, this statement is profound and true. To get anywhere in life, we all must first have the drive and the desire to even begin the journey to a better place. However, I believe the fear of failure and failure itself also plays an important role in changing and propelling our lives. This year has been the hardest ones I have ever experienced in my life. I was quick to learn that Senior year in particular not only gives me the highest degree of possible freedom, but also holds an entirely new set of expectations and responsibility over my head. Turning eighteen was like having a huge pile of stones unleashed onto my chest, then being expected to breathe with the unaccustomed weight. I have never been expected to work nearly as hard as I have this year alone, but this same year has been one of the most exhilarating I have ever experienced. This may be mainly due to the journey that I have had, even if I am still at the beginning of it, and it has been an uphill climb the entire way. I never realized that I wanted to become...
Words: 996 - Pages: 4
...There is something in all of us that gets through any hardship we may face in our lives. It helps us overcome failures and setbacks. It makes or breaks the habits in failure and success, and it applies to all of us. It is a need we all have in our lives. It is the need for courage. “That's why courage is tricky. I mean any fool can have courage. But honor, that's the real reason you either do something or you don't. It's who you are and maybe who you want to be. If you die trying for something important, then you have both honor and courage, and that's pretty good. I think that's what the writer was saying. That you should hope for courage and try for honor. And maybe even pray that the people telling you want to do have some too.(Atom 1)” This clearly sums up how you define courage, in my opinion. With courage comes honor. When you face your obstacles knowing that they’re going to be hard or tricky, or break a habit that is courage. Although, when you do them the right way and come out on top. That is truly an honor. A person who never...
Words: 904 - Pages: 4
...The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. I don’t know about everyone but I’ve stumbled and fallen an abundance of times, although one failure in particular had a substantial impact on me. My freshman year of high school competing as a runner in the world of Track & field had been the most disappointing year of my high school career. I made it far for a rookie, but how it all played out in the end just felt as if daggers had pierced my heart. For those who know me know that I am all for this sport, you can always find me on or near a track. As I started off my freshman year my coach advised me that being a sprinter is the path I should take in order to be successful in the sport. He said my personality best suited one of a sprinter the most. So I set out in hopes of achieving what few could, I wanted to be one of those to compete in the state meet as a freshman and get recognized by colleges early. Have scouts on my trail from freshman to senior year. Unfortunately a leg injury ended my season in the finals of the qualifying meet for state. Now some may not look at this as a failure, but in my eyes it was nothing less than a defeat and failure to pursue the goals I sought forth to achieve. I failed and defeated myself in the process. However after recovering from the injury I had my eyes set on yet another goal, Redemption! This down fall changed the way I viewed failure, it gave me a drive, and allowed me to break barriers I once...
Words: 476 - Pages: 2
...away from this fear only to find yourself end up in the same spot, and finally understanding what terror truly is. Luckily, I woke up before I became a feast; although, I didn’t sleep for the rest of the night. The looming sensation of my dream death had me filled with a mix of emotions above all reason. I had found myself feeling quite similar when I had committed one of the biggest failures of my life so far. For me, experiencing failure early in high school felt like being eaten by racist cannibals, but it was somehow “necessary” for my development as a person. I had got in the way of my success because I wasn’t focused at all during 9th grade 1st semester, which had led to me doing poorly....
Words: 610 - Pages: 3
...The Greatest Salesman in the World By Og Mandino Only principles endure and these I now possess, for the laws that will lead me to greatness are contained in the words of these scrolls. Principle #1 – Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. Keep it always in mind and you will overcome seemingly impossible obstacles that are certain to confront you as they do everyone with ambition. Never feel shame for trying and failing for he who has never failed is he who has never tried. Principle #2 – I will form good habits and become their slave. If I must be a slave to habit let me be a slave to good habits. My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed. Each principle in these scrolls will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it with one which brings me closer to success. For it is another of nature’s laws that only a habit can subdue another habit. As I repeat the words daily contained in these scrolls they will soon become a part of my active mind. Eventually I will find myself reacting to all situations which confront me as I was commanded in the scrolls to react. Thus a new and good habit is born. Principle #3 – I will greet this day with love in my heart. Love is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. I will laud my enemies and they will become my friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become my brothers. Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses...
Words: 1575 - Pages: 7
...The Greatest Salesman in the World By Og Mandino Only principles endure and these I now possess, for the laws that will lead me to greatness are contained in the words of these scrolls. Principle #1 – Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. Keep it always in mind and you will overcome seemingly impossible obstacles that are certain to confront you as they do everyone with ambition. Never feel shame for trying and failing for he who has never failed is he who has never tried. Principle #2 – I will form good habits and become their slave. If I must be a slave to habit let me be a slave to good habits. My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed. Each principle in these scrolls will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it with one which brings me closer to success. For it is another of nature’s laws that only a habit can subdue another habit. As I repeat the words daily contained in these scrolls they will soon become a part of my active mind. Eventually I will find myself reacting to all situations which confront me as I was commanded in the scrolls to react. Thus a new and good habit is born. Principle #3 – I will greet this day with love in my heart. Love is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. I will laud my enemies and they will become my friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become my brothers. Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses...
Words: 1575 - Pages: 7
...market near my house without my dad supervision in the car. On way to the market, one car made a sharp left and hit me while I was going straight. I was so scared because I did not know what to do and I still not have my license yet. My hands were shaking. So I decided to drive away, and went home. It shocked me and I was terrified of driving. I told my dad that I do not want to drive anymore. My dad always takes me to places like work, school, etc. One day, I saw my dad looks so exhausted from work, and I know it is time to stop bother him. I decided to relearn everything and to face my fear. A month later, I finally got my license. Driving has been one of the most rewarding thing I have done. The freedom to go anywhere is great, I enjoy driving, and I am glad I was brave enough to face my fear and overcame it....
Words: 468 - Pages: 2
...parents signed me up for football at 8 years old, and have been in love with it ever since. From playing in the parks and recreation league, to high school football, I’ve played with generally the same team creating a group of brothers that I would have for life. At first I played just because all my friends played and I wanted to have fun, but as I got older, it became a focus in my life. After playing for 10 years, I’ve come to realize that football is a tough sport that takes endless hours of hard work and dedication. Along with being a very physical sport, a large part of football is mental. The mental part of the game teaches many valuable life lessons like how to work with a group. My coaches are basically second parents to me, as many times I thought they really didn’t like me, it turns out they just wanted to make sure I was going to grow up to be a good man with the right tools for life. Failure was the experience with the biggest...
Words: 788 - Pages: 4
...To most people, failure is all bad and in most cases a tragedy that haunts them for an extended period of time. However, all failures have successes and tell us what we need to accomplish to be successful: a beauty of failure. While I have failed at various things in life such as not getting an A on a test, breaking my phone, and other instances; the failure I worked my hardest at to overcome was winning the State tournament in wrestling. I started wrestling when I was five, but didn't start competing till I was six. I would train twice a week for an hour, this lcontinued for four years. My first and second year wrestling I made it to the MYWAY(Michigan Youth Wresting Association) regional wrestling tournament; a tournament where...
Words: 649 - Pages: 3