I hate failure. I hate feeling like I let everyone down because I didn't do my best. I hate being a disappointment to my friends and family around me because I didn't achieve my goal. I love succeeding, allowing myself and everyone around me to see that I am good enough. Good enough to accomplish my dreams and the goals I have set out for myself. It wasn't until college that I realized that in order to reach my definition of "successful", I needed to take risks. I needed to get out of my comfort zone and be willing to put myself out there. I realized that I needed to fail in order to reach my full potential-- in order to succeed.

Failing means something differently to each one of us. It can range from not living up to your own expectations to not living up to the expectations that society has put up. We have all experienced this, one way or another. We could've failed a high school class or we could've failed to complete 2048 (I've failed at least 30 times at this game). This failure that we have experienced brings down our self-confidence. We begin to doubt our abilities, skills that we constantly use over and over again. I know that when I have failed, I just sit there wallowing for about 30 minutes thinking about how I'm not good enough. I wasn't the best I knew I could be. This can hinge our determination to push through and accomplish so many things.

One of my biggest failures was the rejection I got for being a resident assistant. For the RA position, I made it to the final stage of interviews (there were 3 full stages). I felt so proud of myself because there were great amounts of people that kept getting cut. I would dress up for each interview in my best attire, with my makeup on fleek, and my posture the best it could be. I gave my best answers, but in the end, it didn't work. In the end, I saw my wonderful friends get the RA position. I saw their Snapchats celebrating their amazing accomplishment. I was devastated because I couldn't do that. The only thing I could do was go to my room and cry. Why did I cry? I did it because this is a position that I poured my heart and hard work into. Of course, I was so proud of my friends for achieving something I couldn't, but I just felt terrible about my abilities. I failed.

I came to the point that rejection became a feeling that was so familiar. I was no longer surprised by it. It wasn't until I grasped an incredible, rare opportunity that I realized that all of my rejections led up to this point. It just wasn't the place I was meant to be at the time (as cliche as it sounds). It just so happens that all of my failures led to my success, to becoming more involved on campus, to growing as a person. I know how much it sucks to not get something you really want. I know the sinking feeling you get in your stomach when you get told "no". But the no's I was given only made me grow in my perspectives; they allowed to me to gain more knowledge on who I was as a person and as a student.

I was in class one day and for some reason, we began to talk about Lady Gaga. We talked about the failures that she endured and how that led her to become the person she is today. Lady Gaga was dropped from her first record label after only three months. According to her, she cried so much that she couldn't talk. At that time, she was so devastated because singing was the only thing that she dreamed of doing. After that, she realized that she couldn't give up. Lady Gaga pushed through all of the heartbreak and kept trying to get signed by other record labels. Eventually, she did. She then became such a successful artist, a total of six Grammys. Although I wasn't there, I think it's safe to say that she got through it with the help of her support system. Our support systems are one of the biggest gifts we could ever have.

My family and my best friends are my support system. These are the people I rely on to help pick me back up and dust me off. They are the ones that help me through the rejections, but also celebrate with me in my victories. Thanks to my support system, I knew that I was invincible. No matter how much I might fail, I know that I will always have people on my side. It gives me the determination of keep pursuing everything I wanted.

I know how much it sucks to fail. I know how it feels to lose all confidence in yourself. But based on what I've learned through personal experiences, Lady Gaga, and my support system, it's acceptable to fail. No matter how many rejections you get, it doesn't mean you're any less. Failing allows you to learn more about yourself and it gives you the privilege to learn from your mistakes. No matter what, you're still an incredible, intelligent person. Failing is part of our lives, it's very normal. If you were always perfect at everything, you would never be able to grow as a person and expand your mind. Mistakes are one of the most important concepts to becoming successful.Take risks. Dream big. Make mistakes. And most importantly, fail.