26A – Celebrating Failure

1) Financial Accounting.... a class feared by many and known as one of the most difficult within the University of Florida curriculum. Naturally, I decided to take it in the shortest time possible, in one of the most tumultuous times of our lifetime. I had heard many things about the class, even the smartest of my friends cringed at the mention of the class. After taking it, I share that same deep disdain for the class. I had gone my entire life in school getting great grades by doing my homework and paying attention in lecture. It worked for me every time until this class. I had never failed so badly, by my standards, in my educational history. I did the bare minimum on the first test, watching the lectures and doing the homework alone, and it destroyed me. Then, I did the same for the 2nd test and tried to slow it down and really understand the concepts. It frustrated me to no end and it let to some anxiety attacks. I did better, but not very well. By the time the 3rd test came around, I did everything available to me. I watched and took notes on lectures, I did the homework and extra practice problems, and even did the practice tests. I only ever ended up doing just as well as the last. However, I learned a lot. In the end, i did mediocre at best. 

2) I learned a lot during this class. I used to rely on the idea that I would try my absolute best and take solace in the idea that I could not do better. For the longest time, I would not check my grades, since I felt I was already trying my best and being disappointed by bad grades was counter intuitive and would upset me for no reason, as the it was in the past and could not be changed. However, looking at my failures motivates me to try even harder in the future. Sometimes, you have to face your failures to motivate you in the future. Sometimes, you can try your best and still fail too though. The class also taught me that sometimes in order to achieve, we have to evolve. In this case, a strict regiment was needed and a lot of practice.

3) I used to have extreme anxiety over the thought of potentially failing or having already failed. I would never look at bad results, as I figured it was better know I tried hard than to just be upset about it. Though it sounds dramatic, I do have very bad anxiety and it greatly affects people in many  different ways. I knew a friendly acquaintance, who suffered sever anxiety and depression from not being able to pass the class and sadly it ended very badly. This class has dramatically changed my view of behavior. Though it sounds like a cliche, I have learned that failure is part of the process and that it should be embraced. I have learned that, through success or failure, I will, now on, embrace the experience of every risk and opportunity. It is something I look forward to now. It excites me, as I can either accomplish something great at the moment or learn something to help me succeed later. I am definitely more likely to take risks now.