I think of myself as a failure specialist of sorts. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve failed in my personal and professional lives. And I had made some genuinely enormous mistakes. Despite my lighthearted remarks, everyone has failed at some point. Despite its inherent worth to our quest for success and fulfillment, we nevertheless make every effort to avoid it. In particular, Generation Z is terrified of failing. The teachers I collaborate with see an increasing number of kids who are trapped in their academic journeys, unable to go in any direction for fear of making a mistake. They’re so afraid of looking stupid, misinformed, or just plain. If we’re being honest, perhaps it’s not just the kids. Nobody wants to make a mistake in front of the public. Since most of us are our own harshest critics, it can be difficult to ignore the voice in our heads that replays all of our worst moments. Failing is demoralizing, embarassing, and just plain unpleasant. But failure may really prove to be a gift if we can overcome the bad feelings that come with royally screwing up. This is how it has advanced my quest for achievement.
