If you experience worry, stress or anxiety about the possibility of failure in life, here are five key things to know:
Some of the most meaningful things anyone can do in life involve the possibility of failing. As ione of the UC Chaplains used to say, we should think of failing as a form of feedback, and remind ourselves that if something is worth doing, it's worth doing persevering with until you get good at it.
Failing happens. Setbacks happen. Rejections happen. They happen to everyone, including听very successful people. What can make an enormous difference when they do happen is how we choose to look at them.
Key to this is reflecting on what went wrong, working out a way to do things differently, and then doing it. What can we learn from failing? In looking to see what might have gone wrong, we can lay the foundation for future success.
It is entirely possible to experience failing and go on to greatly succeed in life. Indeed, sometimes it is听precisely because听we failed at something that our success eventually comes. Is failing a听barrier or a stepping stone to success? Through our mindset and actions, we each get to decide.听
Feeling disappointed with setbacks is completely normal, but our value extends far beyond our accomplishments. While the attitude we take towards failing is important, so is the attitude we take towards ourselves.听
听
Wh膩ia e koe ki te iti kahurangi, kia t膩papa koe, he maunga tiketike
Follow your treasured aspirations, and if you falter, let it be because of insurmountable difficulties
Get a bad mark? Practical suggestions to help bounce back
OK. You didn鈥檛 get the mark you either wanted or expected. Now what? Here are听three strategies.
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Support and empowerment
There are a number of ways to be empowered when it comes to anxiety about failing, and it could be that something small ends up making a big difference.听
- 听鈥撎鼳n Ako Aotearoa resource intended to help students understand and take positive steps towards reducing assessment anxiety.
- Pokap奴 P奴kenga Ako| Academic Skills Centre听鈥 The Academic Skills Centre is an advisory service听and resource听hub听that听focuses on听academic writing and study strategies to maximise听student achievement. Not only is it free for all students from first year through to PhD, the service receives virtually 100% positive feedback from students on their evaluation forms.听
- Te P艒p奴 Rapuara | UC Careers听鈥 The UC Careers team听help you with all of your career development and job search needs. Want to find out where your degree can take you? Need to hone your interview or CV-building skills? The UC Careers team are here to help you with these and many other career-related things.听
- Atawhai 膧konga | Student Care听鈥 Finding life at university or home听a struggle? Student Care offer free practical advice and guidance to all UC students. Whether you are feeling lonely, need help with time management skills, or have received a letter concerning your academic progress, the Student Care team are your 'go-to' team to talk it over with and look at practical options.
- Mentoring Programme听鈥 Mentors are students who want to make a difference for others by sharing what they learned during their time at university. Benefit from the wisdom and advice of another student who has 'been there, done that.' It's also a great way to ask 'that silly question'!
- UC Health Centre's Counselling Service听鈥 The UC Health Centre provides a free counselling service for all students.
