It’s Okay to Fail and Hear the Word No by Clarisa

It’s Okay to Fail and Hear the Word No by Clarisa - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

The most important lesson I learned from my teacher Dr. Shannon Howard was what FAIL, and NO really meant. Dr. Shannon Howard was my first English Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery. She was one of the sweetest teachers I have ever had, and she always took the time to make sure her students understood what the lesson was about. She taught me that FAIL really stood for Frist Attempt In Learning, and that NO stood for Next Opportunity.
I always worked hard in school, but I have a problem with getting frustrated if I don’t understand the concept after the third try. I want to understand it immediately, but that’s not how everything goes. Sometimes to fail is what is best for a student, because when that student fails at something they realize their mistakes. The mistakes that were made makes it a bit easier to remember them. That way the next time the challenge arise that student would know what not to do instead of everything they were supposed to do. It is easier to remember your mistakes because you make sure it will not happen again.
Sometimes the problem may not be what a student is doing wrong in the assignment, but how the student comprehends the material. Some students have to find other ways that helps them understand how to do the assignment because of the type of learners they are. Depending on the type of learner a student is will determine how well that student will comprehend the lesson. I am more of a visual learner, but my auditory skills are really close behind it. So if I can help it I try to watch and listen closely when I am in class and take notes for my benefit. If I still cannot understand the assignment sometimes the hands-on approach and talking out loud helps me with my assignments too. Dr. Howard showed the class that it is okay to not understand the lesson when it is first given to us. All that mattered was how we approached it.
Dr. Howard also told the class not to get upset when we hear the word no, as a matter of fact she told us to welcome it. She told us that NO stood for Next Opportunity, and whenever we hear it try a different path. Dr. Howard explain that if someone tells us no then we should try asking someone else instead of giving up. She told us that giving up should not be an option if we really want something. Dr. Howard explained how we should do the best we could and keep pushing forward no matter how many noes are thrown at us.
When I hear those words I try to remain positive, but sometimes it can still get frustrating. In the end she was usually right about staying positive though. No one likes to hear the words “fail” or “no”, but it is actually a benefit. If they have a positive outlook on life like Dr. Howard does, or was taught this refreshing information like my class and I were it influences your life decisions. This type of thinking also builds self-esteem for students that are failing, or constantly hearing the word no when they are trying so hard, but they cannot grasp it or understand why. Therefore, it would be great if everyone at least heard of the abbreviations of the words “fail” and “no”. When I found out what those words stood for it made me feel better about taking on the challenges in college since I am majoring in chemistry to become a pharmacist.