Failure will always give you a second chance

Before I dive into this topic, let me expand on the two key words in this context: 'learning' and 'mistakes'.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, learning is the process of acquiring knowledge, values, behaviours, skills and understanding through studying and experience. Mistakes These are actions that are not right.

Nobody likes mistakes, but everyone makes them. Mistakes are embarrassing and stinging and sometimes make us interrogate our worth. But the truth is mistakes are not the end point. They are unexpected experiences that lead us to self-discovery and wisdom.

When we fail, we feel defeated, not knowing that the failure carries a message, and when we listen attentively, it turns out to be our greatest teacher. At this juncture, I want to share my story, which taught me that failure is not fatal.

My name is Martin Alex, a second-year university student who is very intelligent and confident. Flashing back to my secondary school days, I had always been among the smartest students. When I got admitted into the higher institution, all my hope was that success would come easily without stress, late-night reading, struggle and hunger.

While others were reading, I was always busy with my phone and ended up being distracted. No doubt I was always going to night class to read, but the funny part is when I get there I will be distracted either by a friend or by my phone watching TikTok and chatting. I was always saying that I will read one week before the exam or when I finally see the timetable with my naked eyes.

My friend John always advised me to read and stop engaging on social media too much. I neglected the advice and kept on pressing my phone. When it comes to smartness and intelligence, I was gifted with that, but I didn't know it doesn't end there. My female coursemates believed in me, but they never knew that my background was not strong enough to meet the university's expectations.

I carried the mindset of my secondary school and entered the university. One week to the exams, I felt so reluctant to open my books, which I lied to myself that I would read earlier. Two days after the exams, I couldn't do something tangible. I opened all my books but couldn't get 50% of what was inside the books.

Exams finally started and also finished within 2 weeks. When the results were posted, reality hit hard; I couldn't believe my eyes. The results were very poor; imagine carrying four courses over. I looked at my results and became speechless for over 5 minutes. For the first time I felt the weight of failure pressing on my chest. My friend did well, but I was left behind, replaying the past days I wasted without reading.

At first I blamed everyone on these three angles; The marking was too strict. The lecturers were not fair. The exams were far more difficult than mine. But deep down I knew the truth: that it wasn't about the three things I mentioned above but about my attitude.

I asked myself so many questions; Martin Why did you fail?. Martin How can you rebuild from here? Martin What can you do differently to improve next time? From these questions I was able to transform myself. The next semester I did not make small changes but powerful changes.

I didn't miss any lecture, I joined study groups, I did all my assignments, I asked questions, I reduced my time on social media and I created a timetable for myself. I mingled with students that knew more than me. It was not easy; there were times I wanted to relent on my effort, but whenever I looked at my last semester's result, I refused to cease fire.

By the end of the semester, my grades improved remarkably. I smashed all my courses, including the ones I failed. That single experience converted my mindset up till now that failure does not define me, but rather my response to it.

Learning from mistakes is a gradual journey that builds wisdom and humility. Mistakes are not meant to crush confidence but to correct. I admitted my failure was why I was able to work on it. I realised that every mistake has a reason; if you regret it, don't get stuck, reflect on it and move forward. I changed my behaviour because my siblings were looking up to me. If I fail, who will encourage them?

I will end with this quote from Edison: "I have not failed; I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

This should be the spirit of a learner; mistakes should give you another chance to get it fully correct.