‘Failure’ is something that we have all experienced in life. From Steve Jobs to J.K. Rowling, the names we revere today were once the people who walked around with their long list of failures.
Failures embarrass us. And, embarrassment brings us discomfort. But, some strong-willed people fight through their way to the end of the tunnel and find dazzling lights.
Asha Akhter writes “I was a good student. I always pushed myself to achieve great things and my secondary school examination was no different. I expect to get the highest grades but, in the end, I did not get them” Asha is now working as a team lead at an international startup and deals with people all around the world. Reminiscing, she adds,
“I was more surprised than upset. I locked myself in my room and eventually had to be admitted to a hospital. Looking back, it feels hilarious.”
Sanjeedah, an undergrad, shares a similar story. She was confident that she would get admission to her dream university but when that did not happen, she found herself in dismay. She says,
“I felt like I wasn’t deserving of anything and the people around me made me feel no better.”
However, she gave herself another chance. She tutored students to afford her education at a private institution while studying for the next entrance exam, with her handwork and determination, the following year, she did get into another public university.
Are you wondering why we shared these two stories with you? These are very relatable stories of our lives of how failure is frowned upon even in our formative years.
Learning happens through trial and error, then why is it that failure is treated as an alien concept? If we study the stories of these two brave women, we get invaluable life lessons that might be helpful for you, me, and students in general. Let’s dive into them then!
Make peace with it
Remind yourself that there is more failure taking place around you than success. And what is done cannot be reversed. Asha adds “If I could go back, I would probably take a vacation instead of being so hard on myself.” Accept that you are not beyond this very human event that happens to even the best of us. Let it go. Breathe and start again.
Always have a ‘Plan B‘
“Having one option is not an option”, Sanjeeda endured baptism by fire, she survived, “I advise everyone to have options. A backup plan does not mean you are not confident, it simply shows that you are well thought-out” She insists.
Improvise
Make do with what you have, even if it is for the moment, in this fast-moving world, if you detach yourself from a situation because it is not pleasant, you might find yourself missing out on a lot of opportunities. Life only goes forward. Therefore, pick up whatever you can and start working with it.
Reflect
Reflecting or looking back is crucial if you want to learn from your experiences. In the moment, you might have a lot of unwarranted emotions flowing that will hold you back from realizing what you need to realize. Cool off, make peace, look back, and ask yourself. What could be done better?
Be your own cheerleader
Most of us are blessed with many well-wishers. Asha remembers her doctor telling her that her grade is not at all bad for the benchmark of business students. However, she could only pick herself up when she decided to get back on her feet. Forgive yourself, be kind to yourself, in the end, you must have your own back.
We congratulate both Asha and Sanjeedah on their amazing journeys. The road traveled by them may not be rare for the students. But not everyone can step forward to share their story of struggle. We salute these amazing women for their valence, resilience, and candor.
These inspiring stories were collected, compiled and produced by Ms. Nafisa Nower Zoarder from the Circle Desk.
