High school is a time of learning, developing, and growing; along with that always comes failure. For most students, failure is seen as something to avoid or be frowned upon and is a sign you are not good enough or capable of success. However, fear of failure can create anxiety, stop growth, and maybe cause future failure. The thing is that failure is not only unavoidable but it’s essential for academic and personal development. It is time we stop treating failure as something to be afraid of but as a tool for learning and success.
First off, failure teaches resilience. Every time we fail or get set back, it is how we respond that defines us. If we approve of setbacks as something we can learn from, we recognize it is not the end, but a detour to success. High school is also a critical time for all students to learn how to get back up after being put down and how to adapt and move forward. Without experiencing failure, students will miss out on a crucial opportunity to develop resilience for high school and throughout all of life.
Failure also creates problem-solving skills. When things don’t go exactly as planned, whether it’s a poor grade or not playing as well as you could in a sports game, you are likely to reflect on what you did wrong. When making a mistake, it is important to think about what you did wrong and what to do better in the future. This self-reflection is vital for learning and growing in all aspects of life. That act of failing and understanding why and most importantly taking the steps to improve is how success and growth are truly achieved.
It is also important to remember failure is a huge part of your character and creativity. Many of the world’s most successful people from scientists like Thomas Edison to Marilyn Monroe have talked about their failures helping them become successful. One of Thomas Edison’s most famous quotes is “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” His outlook on failure shows that failure is an opportunity to create better solutions. As a high school student, this mindset is crucial whether in a classroom, sports field, or anywhere. This can help students think outside of the box and explore new and better ideas they might not have even considered, without this failure.
The fear culture most everyone in this world has can lead to stress and pressure, further leading to anxiety and lack of energy. Many students believe that perfection is the only thing acceptable and this pressure can make school and learning feel like a high-stakes competition with everything on the line. This mentality can also lead to stress and burnout when out of high school. However, when students accept this failure as a part of life, they can improve and focus on improvement.
Finally, it is important to remember that failure does not define a person. Grades, awards, and achievements are important but they do not reflect who someone truly is. Failure should not be feared because it does not lessen the value of someone’s worth but is a temporary setback and a moment to learn and grow. Removing the normal ideas around failure can help students take risks, challenge themselves, and be brave enough to step out of their comfort zones.
In conclusion, high school students shouldn’t fear failure but instead embrace it and use it to learn, develop, and grow. Failure teaches us that success is a series of setbacks and breakthroughs that lead to progress and success. So next time you fail, remember that failure is not the end, but another opportunity to learn and progress.
