You're a Failure.

Failure. It's inevitable. Everybody HAS to fail. I'm a failure, you're a failure. At some point. I don't know about you but at some point in life I feared failure immensely. I have always been a go getter and determined to suceed in life. I remember back in year 10 I cared so much about grades that I would get upset over what I considered to be a low grade. People would tell me that they WISHED they had the grade that I had but I just had such high standards for myself that I didn't care. One's failure is another's success. We need to remember that.

I've definifely learnt a lot about failure and failing over the years, especially 2016. My mum is a huge contributer to that. My mum is the best advice giver. I go to her for pretty much every problem because she always knows what to say.

All those role models and influencers that are practically rolling in money, known world wide for their achievements and enrich our lives daily, all failed at some point. Whether it be rejected, told they weren't good enough or didn't have the finances to do what they do. They all failed. When one succeeds we hear of their successes but how often do we learn of their failures?

I used to be that negative nancy who would moan and groan whenever I didn't succeed. I remember seeing that B grade next to English on my GCSE results paper in year 10 and going to the bathroom just to cry. It wasn't that a thought a B was bad, I just knew I was capable of better. In every mock beforehand I had always gotten higher than a B so when I saw that the only time I got a B was in fact the real deal, it was heartbreaking. I've wanted to be an English Teacher for a very long time so a large part of my mind started to assume the worst and my heart shattered thinking that I would be incapable of teaching English when I myself didn't get an outstanding grade.

My mum really put things into perspective for me. She told me that I shouldn't be upset that I didn't get the highest grade, it should make me more determined to be a teacher. I should have the mindset to prove that you don't need to be the best to achieve your goals. I could actually inspire young people by showing that you don't need to be the top of your class to succeed in life.

Having that talk with my mum was really inspiring and really motivated me to think differently about the idea of failure.

Failure isn't an excuse to give up but an opportunity to try harder and to better ourselves. We should take our mistakes and weaknesses to make us stronger. I actually re-sat my English exam and got an A the second time around. I knew I was capable of it so I tried again. I could have remained defeated but I chose to get back up. When we fall, we should get back up, dust the dirt off our knees and keep going.

You only fail if you stop trying. Let's be frank here, there is always going to be someone better than you at whatever you're good at but something gives us that special touch. Whether it be that we have a  better work ethic, a unique story or method to our progression, something makes us great.

My favourite quote about failure sums up everything. "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can not accept not trying" - Michael Jordan.

As long as we take a chance and try to be the best version of ourselves possible, failure won't hold you back. Failure isn't the opposite of success but part of the process to success. So my challenge to you, with everything that you do, is to keep on going because whether you're first or last at the end of the marathon, you made it!