This is horrible. You can do so much better. It’s definitely not your best by far. This is supposed to be about the best advice I have ever received, so why am I writing all of these negative criticisms?

When I think of all the advice I have ever received, never fear failure is what always stands out to me. This has molded me for the better part of the last four years. The first time I received this advice and really took it into account was my first year of high school. I had been accepted into the advanced studio art class that year, typically not a class open to freshmen. I was very eager to start attending this class. Little did I know, this would be a long struggle.

Surrounded by so many talented students, both older and better than I was, I knew I was up for a challenge. Countless times I would be told how this needed to be better or that I didn't try hard enough. But with all that criticism came the greatest lesson: don't let failure stop you. I wanted to give up so many times. But with all those critiques, I learned what not to do and how to improve. In those four years of art I have learned more than anything else. I used to beat myself up over any small failure, but thanks to an incredible art teacher and my wonderful classmates that will be my friends for life I know now that the only thing I can do is to keep rising above each failure to become a better person.