Dealing with Setbacks and Failures

Source: www.thenerdist.com

University. 

It's the door that you need to open and step through in order to receive a piece of paper that qualifies you for a job. Though it has the potential to be the most exciting and exhilarating experience of your life, it also has the ability to take you down a lonely road filled with personal struggles and challenges which often feels difficult relate to friends who haven't experienced the same hurdles. It's a turbulent time which really forces you to reflect and grow.

I'm currently a third year student who has seen my fair share of failures and setbacks throughout my post secondary career. Having always been a person that strives to do their best  and set high expectations, it hit me the hardest emotionally when I wasn't able to do well in the concentration that I initially set forth in. I blindly pursued a concentration that was heavily emphasized on by family and peers due to the potential of a higher job opportunity,  and naively believed it would be a good path for myself to set foot on. I struggled with the core concentration classes and suffered poor grades no matter how hard I tried to learn. I felt stupid and unworthy, especially being in a competitive program at school. Despite this, I stubbornly continued to pursue this path, believing that if I tried hard enough, my grades would magically turn around. Deep inside, I knew this wasn't supposed to be the path for me but felt afraid to admit it because of the constant pressure and talk about future career opportunities.  I felt  burdened feeling as though I wouldn't be able to find a good job in the future if I tried to step foot onto a different path.

Source: Google Images

For some people, it's probably easy and simple to switch tracks and turn a different route when things aren't going their way, but for people such as myself, it's difficult and and painful to realize your own weaknesses and feel the courage to pursue a different route from your peers. When you aim to do well in a course and receive a good grade, but end up with a D, the feeling of self worthlessness is overbearing and difficult to ignore. I felt ridiculous and questioned my intellectual ability for being unable to do well in my concentration classes. Like most humans, it's not an easy task to be able to admit to yourself that you're not good at something. However, it made me realize how important it is do do something that you enjoy and do something that you're good at, especially in university. University is a time for you to be able to grow and learn more about yourself. As common sense as it is, it's difficult to remember especially when you are in the middle of your post secondary career. When you discover your weaknesses, don't let them overtake you and your self worth. Acknowledge them and move on but don't let it falter your strength or determination. Focus on your strengths and find ways to play them to your favor. 

After (finally) realizing how well I did in other areas of school that played to my strengths, I recently switched to a different field in business which I actually enjoy. It might have taken me awhile, but I made the switch and feel more confident in pursuing a new path, even if it may be more unconventional to that of my peers.

Life throws challenges which force you to learn more about yourself and discover the person that you're supposed to become. It's a daunting experience when you unlock and discover deep and hidden talents or secrets about yourself which you weren't aware of before, but it's more detrimental to your mental health to let yourself remain on a path where you don't belong. In the end, if you are miserable or overly stressed with whatever path you've chosen for yourself, you won't ever be able to enjoy whatever it is you're doing and you ultimately won't be happy.

I'm still learning how to preserve and keep aiming forward no matter what circumstance I may be faced with. What I've learned so far is to be open to change and don't be hesitant to take a risk and chance. If things aren't working  out the way you want it to, hold your head up high and keep moving forward. You'll eventually find your place with time and patience.

Source: Google Images

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it's going to launch you into something great. So just focus and keep aiming." — Unknown

Readers, how have you dealt with setbacks and failures? Have you ever experienced struggles in your post-secondary career? What helped you keep aiming forward? Let me know!

Kim