I am a perfectionist. I have always felt the need to have complete control over every aspect of my life. And let's just say, college is a very hard time to be a perfectionist.

Recently, I've realized that there is no such thing as "perfect." Perfection is nothing but an illusion that we create for ourselves.

I was talking to a friend the other day, upset just thinking about how I may not get an A in a certain class this semester. He said something to me that I have not been able to stop thinking about. "If you never fail, you'll never really succeed. What value does success really have if you never fail before attaining it?"

Failure is probably my least favorite word. I don't like to fail, want to fail, or even want to think about failing. While failure means something different to everyone, to me, in this scenario, it was not reaching that perfect GPA.

I've since then accepted that I may not get perfect grades this semester, and that's okay. However, it doesn't mean that I'm going to stop trying to reach my goals and do my best. Life is messy. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned in college so far is that I will not always succeed. Sometimes I will fall short. But, I have also learned that these shortcomings do not define me as a person. What defines me is how I pick myself up, and continue to try nonetheless.

Failure is inevitable. We must accept this reality and know that success is sweeter in the end after we have experienced what it means to us as individuals to fail. In the midst of the chaos and ups and downs of life, remember, there's no such thing as "perfect," and it's more than okay to fail. Failure is essential to ultimate success.

We must learn to view failing not as a step back, but as a step forward to greater things. If we allow our failures to become roadblocks, that is exactly what they will be. However, if we use them as building blocks, we can learn from our mistakes and become stronger than ever. Although it's difficult to overcome the negative feelings attached to failing, because they are so inherent, it's important that we try. We must allow ourselves to be optimistic.

Outlook often determines outcome. I truly believe that choosing positivity over negativity every day can drastically change anyone's life, and that there is something good to come out of each and every situation. Even when we feel like failures and things look bleak, there is something to be learned, and our resiliency as individuals is tested.

There is no such thing as perfect, and failure is an integral part of living.