Fall 2015 was a hard semester for me, quite possibly the hardest semester I have experienced as a sophomore at UF. I was taking several challenging classes including ACG 2021 (Introduction to Financial Accounting), CDA 3101 (Introduction to Computer Organization), and finally COP 3530 (Data Structures and Algorithms) during Fall 2015. While I knew from the beginning of last semester that I would have to put a lot of work into my classes to succeed, I underestimated the amount of work that was truly required. By the end of the semester I ended up getting a B in CDA 3101, a B- in COP 3530, and a C+ in ACG 2021. While some would not consider these grades to be a true failure, seeing as ACG 2021 is touted for it's difficulty as an undergraduate course and COP 3530 is a prerequisite for nearly every class in the Computer Science Engineering major, I hold myself to a high standard. For me, Fall 2015 constituted a semester in which I failed.
As a result of my failure, I learned various lessons. More than once I left assignment for the last minute in COP 3530, a class in which the assignments were non-trivial in scope. As I worked to complete assignments that I procrastinated on, I forgot to complete assignment for other classes, such as a quiz in ACG 2021. I no longer procrastinate on assignments, especially those assignments that stand to teach me the most (with regards to my field) and which I know will be involved beforehand. Furthermore, I've learned to keep on working and pushing forward, even when the going gets tough. Had I studied longer and worked more towards practicing the concepts covered in tests for ACG 2021, I could have gotten a B or a B+ instead of a C+, which would have been much better. Now, even though I work a part-time job (19-23 hours a week), I continue to work and put in the extra degree of effort in my assignments because I know the rewards speak for themselves.
I have found that while I initially handle failure emotionally (I think that to a certain extent, we all handle failure this way) I eventually handle the bulk of the failure in a behavioral manner, finding ways to better myself and change my habits in order to succeed in the future. I personally believe that this is the best method of dealing with failure. There's no use in thinking in terms of "could have" and "should have" when the past cannot be changed. As a result, I see failure as an opportunity to grow and advance as an individual. While this class has not significantly changed my views on risk-taking, I find that I am more likely to take a risk in which the main consequence is "failure" simply because I know that failure can push one to succeed and achieve more than previously thought. I think the image below illustrates this point well. Don't see failure as an absolute end. Instead see it as an opportunity to work harder and reach goals that seemed too far to reach before.
Sebastian,
ReplyDeleteWe experienced similar failures describing our lack of success in our classes. Actually, we both struggled in the same class of ACG 2021 (Intro to Financial Accounting). I also underestimated the workload in the class, but for me, it was mainly because it was my first true online class. Because of this, I ended up getting behind and didn't leave myself enough time before exams. I think that we both learned from these failures, as we are now both working harder and doing better. I try and think of failure in the same way as you, which is that initially it might hurt, but you have to see the long-run outcome and how you will become better in the end. Unlike you, I thought this class taught me how to handle failures, especially in our assignments when we had to interview customers or other entrepreneurs.
You can check out my post here:
http://jamesdonigan.blogspot.com/2016/04/celebrating-failure.html
I completely understand the difficulties of working a part time job while also being in school full time. Balancing everything is a pain. I also agree that it is our impulse as humans to react to failure emotionally, and that if we take a step back from our emotions we can learn a lot from each failure. I also agree that we can spend too much time thinking about the past when it comes to failure, but I think that some amount of reflection can leave us better prepared for the future. The trick seems to be to learn from the past, not dwell on it.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to my post: http://greywilliams3.blogspot.com/2016/04/celebrating-failure.html
Another thing that I noticed in your post that I agree with was that restricting these projects to the last semester can really limit what stories can be told.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI think most of us experienced a semester like that,for me was also last semester I was taking too many hard classes that I had nothing else to do but study. I think we all learn a big deal from the decisions we made even though, some of them are not the greatest ones. I also believe we have to learned from every experience we have and move one, by saying that i mean that we cannot be so hard on ourselves and take the best from every decision in order to move on. here is the link for my blog
http://nataliagarcia2022.blogspot.com/2016/04/celebrating-failure.html
I can relate to not doing well in classes and realizing that you have to make changes to improve the results obtained in your classes. Failing is not something that we set out to do, however, you appear to have a good concept on how to handle it and to benefit from it. Good qualities that will benefit you well in the future.
ReplyDeleteIf you would like to check out my blog it's at http://princeofentrepbyme.blogspot.com/2016/04/celebrating-failure.html