This year has been tough in the sense that, as a sophomore in college, I have way more independence than I did last year. I no longer have that safety cushion from the Bates administration or faculty. When I say this, I mean that now I am expected to apply everything I learned from last year, the most tumultuous year of my life, to this current year and do it better and more efficiently. Doesn't this sound slightly unreasonable? In reality, it isn't. In reality, I am learning life-skills that will be imperative for my future. In reality, I am continuing to grow into adulthood and learn from my failures.

I'll admit it, I failed badly this year. Twice, actually (I know right? It's sad how early in the year it is). When it has come to papers, understanding readings, and participating in class, I have excelled. Where I have seriously failed so far is when I've taken tests. Everyone told me after I received my exams back “Oh, I'm sorry. Now you will improve next time!” Or “We all fail. It's a natural part of life!” And as angry as I was receiving these comments, I knew they were right. We do all fail, and it is a part of life, but when the stakes are this high in college (which they normally are), mistakes are not tolerated for long. My future is at risk at every bad grade. That freshman cushion could only help me for so long last year, and now that I'm without it, I can let myself fall too hard.

If you are reading this and know that you've failed a few times this year as well - whether that failure has been in a relationship, an exam, a stupid thing you said to someone, or not being there for someone who needed you. Please remember these few things: success can only come out of failure, failure is an action, not a noun, and learn to laugh at yourself every once in awhile.

The first piece of advice is important to take to heart because once we fall down, we can only get up in order to move on. I may have failed a few tests, but I know for sure that I'm going to do well on the next one because I don't like the feeling of failure, no one does. The second part is also important; failure is not how we define someone, it is what we do as human beings. Humans are fallible, imperfect and emotional creatures. Accept failure, but don't define yourself as a failure because you will not grow from there. Lastly, learn to laugh! Everyone who has had an embarrassing moment, an awful day or a bad experience in the past can find some way to laugh or smile about it. There's always happiness in every situation if we choose to look for it. Learn to laugh, don't take life too seriously, and keep failing knowing that tomorrow will be better.