Lessons for Failure

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           Perhaps the only way to succeed is from failure. In dividing my entire life into the categories of accomplishment and disappointment, I have noticed that sometimes the many, less important achievements are more impressive than that one great triumph.

            I was approaching the conclusion of my junior year and, like all high school students, I was hysterical about taking the dreaded ACT test. I worked to better myself in all four areas of Science, Mathematics, Reading, and English. I studied day and night to make sure that I would meet or exceed in every category because my conscience kept me aware of the disappointments that would arise if I received poor test scores. A month later, after the test scores were submitted, I received a letter in the mail with my final ACT progress report: Failure. I didn’t meet my expectations on any of the categories, and my reading score was weak. There is absolutely no worse feeling than knowing you have let yourself down, especially with the most important test of your life. Yet looking back on my catastrophe, I realize that even though my goals were not met, I still have the capability to be as successful as I desire.

            As a result, I came to the conclusion that my success should be based on all of my outstanding achievements. After all, I’m president of the National Honors Society and the Student Council, and I was president of my class from freshman to junior year. On top of that, I have developed skills in athletics, music, and academics. I have a 4.0 GPA, and I’m enrolled in advance placement literature, chemistry, and calculus. Plus, my course selection for all four years of high school has been extremely demanding which shows my superb skills in time management. Athletically, I have received a level one cross-fit training certification, and I spend six days a week training young athletes at a local gym. I’ve participated in baseball, basketball, and Olympic weight lifting while working to expand my knowledge of music in jazz band and chorus. It almost seems unfair to judge my successes based on one test score, when my life taken as a whole appears to be off the charts.

            Thus, after comparing my feats to my faults, I can firmly consider my life as a major accomplishment. I’ve learned that I will succeed in life based on how I develop my weaknesses and how I maintain my strengths. In life, what I have achieved is not going to be forgotten because of one test score. Instead it will reveal the quality of my character. This test has taught me to focus on the little things in life and be confident that they will help shape the more prodigious successes. My ACT predicament will slowly fade over time, but my various achievements will soon take its place.

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