Failure builds bridges to the future
The challenge this week was to speak of an un-resolved failure. I want to answer this question by going slightly off script and then using an example to illustrate. I have found this to be true time and time again that what I view as failure in real time often sends me in a different direction or course in life that turns out to be better in the long run. The failure never gets resolved exactly but at the same time provides an opportunity that may have never otherwise happened. I sort of think of it like a bridge to the next chapter in my life.
Just so that I am not waxing too philosophical here, I have a real-life example. When I started my undergraduate program in math, I started at Purdue University in Indianapolis. What I found after shortly entering into the program is that the class sizes were extremely large and most professors would have a line out the door with students waiting for help. This did not work well for me at all. Long story short, I did not get the help I needed and was really just not getting it. I withdrew from the 2 classes I was in and was thinking of forgetting about school altogether. It was a pretty low point in my academic career and I felt like a complete failure. After some thought, I decided instead to take a year off and continue my education at Coastal Carolina University. It turned out to be exactly what I needed. With an environment that featured small class sizes and professors willing to invest time into me I flourished academically and personally.
This one change made a huge difference. At one point I would have definitely thought of my days at Purdue as a failure but now I am not quite sure. My life is completely different now and it was all
because of this experience. Now I can look back at this time and be thankful at the second chance to accomplish my intended goal.
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