Failure is the Best Teacher

There is no better teacher than failure. To gain wisdom, one must encounter an incident, event or an adventure. Experience, on the other hand, is what you get from failing. I know this because I failed, and that turned my life around in a way that success would not have. It started with a D. That D is not failing nor is it the worst thing that could ever happen, I get it but it’s not something anyone would aim for, or in other words, wants to see. Let alone, the fact that it’s something I would be talking about. It was my sophomore year, my first English mid-term. I was confident and ready. English was a subject I loved and have been enjoying all my life. Not to brag but, it was a subject that I assured my A’s in. A month later, I received my test scores and it was a shock. I was in disbelief, what happened? I kept questioning myself. How can I get a 50% in English out of all the other subjects? I don’t mind getting a B or even a C, but a D! I kept staring at my report and eyes were balling. I was so mad with myself. I’m not a D student, I never was.

That D was just not me, but it was eye-opening. Or shall I say a punch in the face. I realized there was only me to blame, it was my fault. I let my confidence and ability get into me to the point that I didn’t put much effort in studying for the test. I didn’t study well and I went into the test unprepared and that’s what I get for it. Nothing in life comes easy, you have to work hard. As Edmond Mbiaka once said: “The struggles, challenges, and obstacles that it takes to succeed in life is what makes success more valuable. Nothing great comes easy, and nothing easy can ever equate to greatness.”

I had only two choices here, either accept the fact that I was a D student despite everything or I could work hard and put more effort and get back my A’s and get a higher grade. Even though, I forgot why I didn’t put much effort in studying I knew for a fact that I would never forget that D. That made me come to a realization, that if I got anything higher than a D, I would not have learnt. I would have still not work as hard as long as I got the grade that satisfied me. That situation gave me a bigger outlook on life, if I succeeded with that same little to none effort I would consider myself a failure because I didn’t gain much knowledge or learnt. That D taught me the consequences of not working hard and studying. I chose to work hard and I successfully was able to get a higher grade. I studied hard for the next test, I did extra work, I payed more attention in class and mainly I learnt. By the end of the year, I managed to get my A back and I was proud of myself. My hard work paid off. If I didn’t fail, I wouldn’t have learnt. I would probably be doing worse on following test because I thought that hard work and putting the effort to study was not important. Failure gave me a chance to explore and learn. With everything I learnt, I had the opportunity to look into myself, in everything around me and mostly in the things I studied. Learning opened a door of curiosity in me that would never close and for that I am grateful.