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Celebrating Failure

1) In another class this semester, I completely failed the first exam we took. My teacher told us it was open-note and open-book, so I approached it pretty confidently and reviewed the textbook a little bit before I started the test. It totally took me by surprise because even though it was open note, the questions were so detailed and so complex about certain class topics that I couldn't just look up an answer. If I didn't know the material (which I didn't) I was totally screwed on the exam. I went into it way too cocky and expecting such an easy test, and was stressed out by the second question. It was the worst I'd ever done on a test and I didn't even know if I would be able to recover in the class from it, because we only have a few big test grades like that. On the second exam, I studied more but still didn't do nearly as good as I would want/need to do well in the class. By the third exam, I finally prepared for a week leading up to it and got the grade I wanted. 

2) I learned that it's never a bad thing to be over-prepared. Even if this test was easy like I had thought it would have been, I still should have studied and been somewhat prepared. I felt like not just a bad student, but like I was wasting my parents money by not even taking the time to try and learn what I was going to school for. It taught me new study habits that I've implemented throughout the semester, like breaking up reading assignments throughout the week and taking notes to study for the exam throughout the entire class unit, not just the day before the exam. Also, even though this was something I already knew, I re-learned that procrastination will never really work out for me. It's almost always screwed me over. 
3) I think that failure is hard, but necessary. I definitely believe that people grow through what they go through, and this majorly applies to failure. Every time I fail, I don't want it to happen again (obviously) so I make sure to try and not repeat whatever I did to cause failure in the first place. I've experienced this a lot with school, like doing badly on the first exam in a class and using that failure to learn how much time I should spend studying for the next exam/not procrastinating. 
I definitely handle failure better when it relates to school and things like that because I try and just move on, accepting that I can't change a grade or a missed assignment. I handle failure worse with relationships and emotional issues because it just cuts deeper and has a greater affect on me that's harder to shake off/ignore. This class has changed my perspective on failure regarding business/work/school, because we have been forced to pick apart an idea we thought of ourselves and imagine the different ways it might fail. It taught me to try and anticipate failure/imagine how it might happen in order to prevent it in the first place. 


Comments

  1. Camila ParraApril 19, 2020 at 6:00 PM

    Hi Linnea,
    I really enjoyed reading your post and I think you had a lot of insightful points. I am so sorry that happened to you in the beginning of this semester, I've definitely been there before. I think the biggest problem with being over-confident in our own abilities is that we think we don't need to prepare or over-prepare, when, as you said, we always should. It's true, this class has definitely taught us to anticipate failure and I think that was a very valid point you made. Great job and I'm glad you have created such strategic study habits.

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  2. Justino Quezada Jr.April 19, 2020 at 8:44 PM

    Hello Linnea,
    I'm sorry to hear about your first two test not going so well. Honestly if I was in your position I would have done the same, if my professor told me that I probably wouldn't even pay attention in class and just wing it on the exam with the book. I agree with what you learned about being over-prepared not being a problem. Also I agree that failure is a necessity, it is something we need to better ourselves, yes it may be tough but we need it.
    Great Post!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Christopher ZislinApril 20, 2020 at 5:33 AM

    Hey Linnea,
    I have also experienced a tough go around with an open note exam and did not do as well as I thought going into it. The worst part about it is that these test like you said create procrastination and I also struggle with that concept. This class has definitely illustrated different ways to fail especially with a future business concept.

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  4. Maeghan SolankiApril 20, 2020 at 6:21 AM

    Linnea,
    I experienced something similar with my last two business law exams, and I know they can be really difficult to succeed in if you don't already know all the material. However, I enjoy your point about avoiding a procrastinating mindset. It is always better to stay one step ahead than a step behind. Not only that, but having a plan still doesn't guarantee success. One must stick to it, the plan and the new mindset of preparedness.
    Great job.
    Respectfully, Maeghan Solanki

    ReplyDelete

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