Greatness in failure

Failure is a part of live; everyone has failed once if not numerous times. It hurts and stings, but it does not mean that we cannot achieve or accomplish anything after. Truth be told, it is a part of success, and should serve as an inspiration to do better.

Besides, who would want to live in a world where no one fails, which means that no one can improve, and feel the success and pride in turning something for the better? Life needs a balance of good and bad events as unfortunate happenings are meant to strengthen our desire to better on future endeavors.

Failure comes in many ways. For Lasallians, every term could mean multiple failures. Quizzes, midterm exams and projects until the final tests, could all mean failures given the number of distractions present.

The second term of every academic year for example delivers the biggest temptation to relax and let our grades slip with the Christmas season. Unfortunately, Santa is not always present and not all students would get their desired grades especially when very few gather enough strength and dedication to study. Some even go as far as failing their courses, which could potentially delay their academic goals and their graduation.

As a result, many students have succumbed and relied on begging in the hopes that professors would be in a giving mood. Some professors do, but in many cases, the standards of the University take precedence.

Last second term, I received my first failure after a year and a term. Disappointing as it is, nothing I could do would change and the marks I received since I really did not perform particularly well because I was hospitalized for a week.

I have to admit though that I was also complacent in my first two quizzes of the course since I knew that the third quiz would be easier. But things did not pan out. My professor was out for a week for a seminar in Cebu, and the following week, I was hospitalized because my blood thickened. In that same week, my professor discussed the topics that would come out in the exam.

Hence, the quiz that I expected would be the easiest became a nightmare that pulled my grades down. I computed the grade I need in the finals to pass the subject, but right after I saw the numbers, I knew that I didn’t stand much of a chance. Though discouraged, I did not back down.

I reviewed for the finals and tried to understand each lecture, but I did not get the mark I needed to pass the class. Finals results were out prior to the passing of our project, and I knew that even if I got a hundred percent in my project, I would still not pass the course.

Despite having little hope, I did the project with my partner and passed it on time. As expected, I failed the course.

It was then that I realized that sometimes, thing are not really meant to happen, and that we just have to move on and learn from our mistakes and experiences. Yes, I failed, but that experience made me stronger and ready for more challenges in the future.

Academic life is the same with any career we would opt for in the future, be it in sports, business, or even politics. The world is not perfect, and failure will always be a part of it. Failing a subject, however, does not mean that you are a failure, in the same manner that a benched athlete may not necessarily be weak.

My parents always remind me that failures are stepping stones towards success. Putting it above your head pulls you down while stepping on them helps you achieve higher endeavors. Having no failure in life or failing to recognize that you have failed could just mean that you are stepping on a hollow stone ready to collapse at any time, while to who do recognize their failures have more stones to support them up.

When you fail, you fail. Do not make it as an excuse to stop moving forward, but instead, use it as a motivation to attain your dreams. Life is very short much like a term for a Lasallian or a season for an athlete. Use every moment to achieve your goals, but if you do not reach the, refocus, rethink, and restart.

We may get sad because of the things we do not want to happen, but always remember that those are part of the puzzle we are building called success.