Failure is Key to Future Success

The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Relentless butterflies rioted within the pit of my stomach as I anxiously, but confidently, step foot onto the track. The vivid memory of electric blue expanding beneath my feet would remain fervent in my mind for years to come, resonating chills each time I reminisce. My adrenaline induced a dream-like feeling as the start of the race approached. Until, finally, the referee’s gun fired a shot that echoed throughout the stadium. My worries were suddenly cast away, and it was time to earn what we have worked so hard for. Winning the state title in the 4x1 Meter Relay, that was our goal. Our confidence was that of no other team, each member of our closely-knit squad possessed a special aching in their stomach. We ached for victory, to accomplished something different, to make history.

Saying this, when I heard the announcer shout, “Down goes Plainfield North in lane five!” one could imagine my immense dismay. Daunting realization set in; my teammates were unable to successfully connect with the handoff. My world stopped, my chest filled with a seeping heaviness that refused to cease, and my heart pinged with a sharp hurt that scalded my very essence. The time, the work, and all the hype of Plainfield North Track vanished in a mere moment. With regret eating away at our soul, we trudged out of the O’Brian Stadium. No words were spoken; instead, we sat with a deflated sadness and embraced the emptiness where our hearts should be.

With intent of brightening our murdered spirits, Coach Holler, the man whom we have trained with since the beginning, walked in with an elevated demeanor, despite our blank faces of despair. Even at our absolute low, Coach Holler managed to inject a miniscule satisfaction into us with a speech that I will never forget.

“No one can take away everything that we have accomplished this year. One race does not define us. If we execute on the final exchange, we win our heat by ten meters, but that’s behind us. I won’t tell you to forget what happened today and move on to the next race. Instead, I’ll tell you this. You have a choice. You have a choice every day. We all live through bad times and good. You can choose to carry the crap in you life with you or you can choose to let it go. I choose to let it go. I choose to wake up every day, forgive myself, and move forward. Today, I choose to forgive the 4x100 and get excited by the 4x200. But, the choice is yours. Good luck.”

We ultimately redeemed ourselves in our second event, the 4x200. With hope reinstated in our hearts, we warmed up and gained back the swagger that we once had. We ran our season best time out of the toughest lanes, lane eight, the very next day, and placed fifth during one of the most memorable few days of my life. Although on that day we did not accomplish what we originally sought out to do, I gained much more from our letdown. I learned that when failure inevitably occurs, moving on is always better then dwelling on past mistakes. Instead of wasting time dwelling, one must focus on the opportunities that are presented in the future.