Embrace Failure by Kaitlyn

Embrace Failure by Kaitlyn - April 2019 Scholarship Essay

Never has a single letter in the alphabet impacted me this much as this one I received in the mail. It seemed to be in the largest font and bold and screamed at me. My heart raced, my hands became sweaty, and I was in a dizzying state of oblivion when I saw an “F” in English on my report card. How could this be when I was the number three ranking student in the entire school? I was the only sophomore ever in the history of the school to pass the AP statistics exam with a 5. I’ve excelled in all my classes, but now an “F” in English! I am doomed. I might as well drop out of high school. No college will ever accept me with this on my report card, were the thoughts that were circling in my head. Even worse, how could I face my friends and family?
I suffered from the angst of this news for several months, but after months of self-pitying and hiding from the shame, I finally came to terms with this devasting news. I informed my parents. They were disappointed that I didn’t feel I could approach them. Through their support and encouragement, I developed renewed strength and motivation. I was not going to let one course determine my educational fate. I was determined to turn the tides. On top of the rigor of four other advanced placement courses, I found sample essay prompts online and practiced writing. I met with my teacher during lunch, after school, whenever he was available, to review them. I read sample essays and continued practicing. It seemed that despite all my efforts, I wasn’t making much progress. Essay after essay, I received less than favorable comments. It seemed like a fruitless effort, but I continued to chip away at it. In the end, while I didn’t pass the AP exam, I did manage to turn my “F” into a “B”.
This humbling experience has made me realize that there is so much I have yet to learn and allowed me to develop myself further. Failure doesn’t define me; I define it. I make it what I want. Failure is an opportunity, not an obstacle. It is an opportunity that must be seized and recognized. As a result, I now offer my assistance to help other students to embrace their failure and develop a plan and skills to help them.