Penguins. When it comes to modeling problem-solving, we often neglect the genius of these flightless birds. A penguin's ability to perceive potential threats is unrivaled by most species. One by one, penguins gather on an ice shelf, near the edge, anxiously awaiting to discover what lies beneath the surface. There is an air of uncertainty as time passes; however, there’s always one: the first penguin, that jumps into the dark oblivion, hopeful and probably frightened to break through the ocean’s depths. The other penguins wait, tensed to leap into the water to chase fish and fill their empty bellies or run away, frightened by the death of their fallen comrade. Despite the outcome, that first penguin symbolizes a choice: to take a chance on the unknown.

As I’ve grown up, I’ve watched the world change drastically. What was once a country of freedom and exploration has grown into a sheltered and nervous nation, hushed by the fear of the unknown. I am aware of the dangers our current global state is facing; however, why should we continue to fear innovation and discovery? Why not take risks and face near-impossible odds, just to see if this one attempt really is the answer? Why not pursue a degree for which a student is passionate, instead being more concerned about how society perceives his “success?" Why not encourage those who seek challenges to become better people? Risk leads to reward or failure. The reward is arguably the most beneficial outcome for the individual—instant gratification and positive emotions; however, failure often yields far more growth and understanding. We, as problem-solving creatures, much like penguins, thrive on failure. We grow. We learn. We become better individuals from failure.

Yes, It is OK to fail. It is OK to stumble. It is OK to change your mind.

We are not a perfect species, nor are we anywhere close. We are meant to fail, we are meant to scrape up our knees and fall on the ground, we are meant to trip up and make mistakes. We are meant for all of these things. Currently, I am enrolled at a university where academics are perhaps the most important thing to many students (as they should be). However, it could be argued that while concern for the future is certainly admirable, it can come to a fault in many students who place too much pressure on themselves to succeed. I, like many other students, feel pressured to portray a very polished and extremely put-together persona at any given moment. Yet, I’ve come to realize that the most powerful way to discover your strength is by becoming more comfortable with the idea that every person has their flaws. We’re all beaten and battered from everything the world throws at us—essentially, we’re all damaged—but what separates the successors from the failures is whether or not we perceive ourselves being healed or still bleeding. When we metaphorically heal, we are learning from our mistakes. We are growing a protective layer to learn from our shortcomings—embracing the weakness and making it a strength.

Failure, uncertainty, fear, concern, and doubt are all natural feelings and occurrences in today’s society. We are so scared of how people perceive our actions, feelings, and emotions. But why not break away from that norm? Why not break from society’s status quo—show emotion, grow from failure, learn from mistakes? Why can’t we all accept that we have a chip on our shoulder? There’s no reason why we can’t. So what’s stopping us?

Absolutely nothing.

Break boundaries. Make mistakes. Show the world that life isn’t always safe.

Be that first penguin.

This article is dedicated to Randy Pausch and his family. Pausch was a late computer science professor from Carnegie Mellon University and author of the book, The Last Lecture, in which he also discusses the idea of the first penguin. Thank you for giving me the inspiration to pursue my dreams.