Failures: At least I Tried rather than What Ifs
As I grew up, I always believed I couldn’t afford to fail. I had to be the best in class. Rank number one. Get the highest grades. Excel in sports and also in art. No mistakes. No losses. No failures.
Of course, failure wasn’t a friend that I chose. I always pursued my goals relentlessly, avoiding failure at all costs. I had to succeed. I had to achieve.
But no matter how hard I tried, failure found me. I still remember the first time it really hit me. I forgot to do my homework when I was just 10 years old. It felt like I’d let everyone down, especially myself. And then there was that dance competition where I froze up and couldn’t perform. I felt like I’d disappointed my teammates and my coach who believed in me.
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Not getting into the high school I wanted was another blow. I blamed myself, thinking I wasn’t smart enough. Even in university, struggling to graduate on the time that I’ve planned was a painful experience. I felt like I was failing at life.
But.. as I grew older, met more people, and read more books, I started to see things differently. Failure wasn’t just about falling short. It was a chance to learn, to grow stronger. I realized that the word “failure” has the same number of letters as “success.” Each setback taught me something valuable about life — especially, about myself, about Wifaaq Ulima.
And recently, I faced more setbacks. Dreams seemed so close, yet slipped away. But this time, I felt more at peace. I’ve learned that life doesn’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. Each failure has made me stronger, more determined and that’s just a part of life’s unpredictable journey.
By today, I’ve come to believe that success isn’t about avoiding failure but embracing it as a necessary companion in life’s adventure. It’s better to say “at least I tried,” rather than dwelling on endless “what ifs.” and by that, each failure that I experienced has shaped me and taught me that success not just a destination — but a continuous, evolving story of perseverance and hope.
And yes, once again, failing is okay, because.. at least I tried.
