Feeling Failure

One common problem at Whitney Young: lots of people here are used to being good at everything. When you find something you are not instantly successful at, it is natural to think you are intrinsically “no good at it”.

Positive messages for you

• Your family cares for you no matter what. (Support!)

• Talking is better than hiding. (Even when you feel like you know nothing.)

• You will get into a good fit college even if your senior year does not feel perfect. College applications can make people feel bad. I observed a senior denigrate their accomplishments as “six years of slacking.” No way, it’s not true.

• Celebrate successes as they come. Little successes are good. They are the route to big successes.

• Set process goals, not grade goals.

  • Study for 60 minutes for the quiz.
  • Be able to explain the details of two items that should be on tomorrow’s quiz.
  • Ask a friend to explain one new concept to you. (For those who are quiet.)

A personal story

My senior year in high school, I joined the choir. Since not enough guys sang, I got put in the “advanced” choir. The thing I remember most was having to learn songs in foreign languages, phonetically - memorizing every sound. Memorization did not come easily to me. I had to sit in my room for hours going over and over the words to the music. In the end, I knew the words and other people in the choir knew the notes, so it worked out. I was proud of that accomplishment.

Look for little successes like that. They will start you on the road to bigger successes.