Being Afraid of Failure Is Actually A Double-Edged Sword | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Being Afraid of Failure Is Actually A Double-Edged Sword

How do you walk the line between healthy and unhealthy motivation?

278
Being Afraid of Failure Is Actually A Double-Edged Sword
Michael Afonso

As a highly dedicated college student, I take pride in my coursework, courseload, and most of all my GPA. I worked hard to achieve all of these things, so why not be proud of my results? Academia was always something that I could say I was really talented at. Although my planning and procrastination were not typically the best, I was able to achieve high marks on quizzes, tests, or other school assignments. However, what happens if an illness takes over and you lose a semester because of it? What happens when the thing you are most proud of goes away and is in someone else's hands?

I firmly believe that my education is most important and of great value. I know many people do not receive the opportunity to sit in a college classroom and participate in the gift that is higher learning. Now that I know how lucky I am to be in the position that I am in, it is no wonder why I choose to take my academics so seriously. I want to put my best work out there, not only for myself but also as a way of showing my appreciation to my parents, who worked to put me through school.

Upon reflection, I have learned that my personal fear of failure, as it relates to my academics, is one of my biggest motivators to do well. I also think that my fear of failure, something that I have only done once before in my academic career, can be extremely toxic and lead to self-sabotage. How do you walk the line between healthy and unhealthy motivation? Fear of failure can lead to dangerous practices such as procrastination, excessive anxiety, low self-esteem, and perfectionism. However, I have also found in the past that procrastination and perfectionism can lead to some of my best work. So how can I take these qualities into account and use them to not only do well in the future but also to squash my fear and its negative aspects?

When the thing you prize most is being determined by someone else and failure is temporary but inevitable, how should I cope? Well, my illness took me for a ride this semester, which landed me inside of a depressive tornado. My grades and my personal life both suffered beyond a manageable extent. I am choosing to get in the solution and slowly repair my personal life by getting more involved on campus, and holding myself more accountable. I am refusing to give in to my illness as much as I did during this past semester; I let it dictate my actions so much so that I was completely isolated and unhappy. As far as my grades, well, that is currently in the hands of my university. I can only hope for a second chance to repair the damage and continue on. I will continue to work as hard as I always have, and dedicate myself to my education and not focus on potential failure like the looming negative state of mind that it currently is.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
RBF
Pop Trigger / YouTube

I'll admit it, I have a condition called RBF or, if you will, Resting Bitch Face.

Anna Kendrick, poor Kristen Stewart, the Queen of England are all life-long sufferers of RBF. Victoria Beckham even made a career out of it! And though it's usually used to describe women, some men are also afflicted. Kanye West is the best example of this.

Keep Reading...Show less
12 Things To Do On A Snow Day

Everyone loves a snow day! Whether you decide to call out sick from work or your classes get canceled, it is a great way to spend time with family and friends.

1. Build a snowman

People brave enough to face the weather can go outside to build an adorable man made of snow. Relive those childhood glory days, but remember to bundle up!

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate
NBC Universal

Everyone who is in college right now, or has ever been, knows the struggle of pulling in the strings at the last second. It seems impossible, and you have to do a LOT of things in order to assure your future for the next semester.

April Ludgate, historically, is a very annoyed person, and she doesn't hide it. Of all the times that I binged and re-binged "Parks and Rec," her attitude relates more and more to me.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

To The Cheerful Person On Their Rainy Days, You Are Valid

The world is not always sunshine and rainbows, and you do not have to be, either.

847
pug covered with blanket on bedspread
Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Ask friends of mine to name a quality about me, and one a lot them will point out the fact that I am almost always smiling. I like to laugh and smile -- not to quote Buddy the Elf in April, but smiling is my favorite! It is probably my favorite go-to expression. However, what a lot of people do not see is that I have my down days. I have days when smiling and laughing is a real struggle, or when I have so much on my plate that going out of my way to behappy takes more effort than I have stored in me. Be it a symptom of college and growing up or a facet of life, I cannot always be content.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

11 Struggles of Packing for College

It would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for you

842
a room with boxes and a window

1. Figuring out when to start

Timing is key, you don’t want to start too early or too late.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments