Author | Alex Woolf |
“Failure means that you give up internally, not because of one failure but because you give up trying,” - Robin Still (Student)
“In life’s failures, there’s always a chance for redemption,” - Caty Watts (Student)
What does failure truly mean? Whether that’s a bad grade/score or burning popcorn, simply put, failure equals lack of success. Goals are the destinations we strive to reach throughout our lives; for some, it is their purpose. When a said goal is close to one’s heart, a fall can be devastating, even causing a sense of loss in life. What makes or breaks success?
I asked several people the question, “What goes down as the semester progresses?” to which many answers could be given- the weather, my sanity, workload. In fact, almost every response was the same, “Grades.” Especially as teenagers, our first idea is to criticize ourselves, say that we’ll fail the next test or that we are terrible at something though we may truly be very capable in the field. Everyone has been in class with that person who bashes themselves about grades or art or a sport while they have a talent for that area. The true question is whether failure is based on our own preset ideas of the outcome or not.
When I asked the same students whether failure was final, they all said it is not. The quote, “failure is never final,” is a common one people hear and use, something many of us know to be the right answer. So then why is it that people are so quick to reason they are not fit to succeed? Our own determination, our belief, even our thought processes are all pivotal to success. Studies have proven that our own words can determine success, such as people who say they will lose weight and show major weight loss in a matter of months without dieting. With that being said, saying that you will win a baseball game but never bothering to practice has no use either; it is the combination of both our thought process and effort which breeds success. For the example of weight loss, the participants believed and, in turn, subconsciously began to want healthier foods, losing the weight. Our thoughts have more impact than many would believe; they can affect all areas of life and truly be a crippling force.
Failure boils down to ourselves; it starts and ends with us. We are the deciding factor in our lives because failure means nothing to someone who is willing to try again. So, in this fall season, though half of the semester has passed, give yourself the best chance for success and believe in yourself.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your Destiny.”
- Unknown