LIFE

So...things didn't go the way you wanted them to. Maybe you bombed that chem test you pulled an all-nighter for, or you didn't make the cut for your school's dance team—no matter what, you're feeling pretty down in the dumps. But we're here to tell you: It's okay to fail. Yes, really. From Albert Einstein to your seemingly perfect sister, everyone has failed at least once in their lives. No matter how bad things are, we promise you that it will get better. 

Sometimes, it just doesn't work out   

You've probably heard people say to reflect on what you did wrong, but what if you feel like you did everything right? You asked for help on things you didn't understand, you studied your butt off, you felt 100% prepared. It's a tough pill to swallow, but sometimes life just doesn't go in your favor...and there's no exact reason why. If you know you tried your best, be proud that you put in your best effort; that's all that matters in a universe filled with coincidences and randomness. If you continue putting your best foot forward, it will pay off one day. 

Tell that negative voice in your head to shut up

We're all our own worst critics, and it's especially hard to move on when that voice in your head just won't let it go. Whatever it says, know that you're not stupid, you're not a failure and you most certainly shouldn't give up. Remember that it's just your fear talking, which always exaggerates to make things seem worse than they actually are. In our experience, it helps to humanize that voice. It hasn't done all that you've accomplished—the only thing it does is bring you down—so why listen to it? It's just a big bully; don't be afraid to tell it to go away. 

Don't be embarrassed 

You're probably worried about what other people will say, but most likely, they won't care (and that's a good thing!). The truth is, most people are too busy thinking about themselves to think about you. It's not like *you* keep a spreadsheet of all your classmates' failures to use against them, and nobody else does either. Even if they do, that automatically makes them super creepy and not worthy of your attention anyway. 

It's impossible *not* to fail 

We apologize for being cheesy here, but you can only avoid failure by not doing anything. You can't be good at everything. In fact, you're going to be bad at lots of things. And that's okay! This doesn't mean you shouldn't try—it just means you're human. Life's ups and downs are what make it interesting. Imagine reading a book in which nothing happens and the hero is perfect. How boring would that be?

Even if things don't work out, remember to be kind to yourself!

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by Cathy Li | 4/12/2023