We all deal with failure, especially in high school. Whether it’s getting a bad grade or failing to make a team, it can often be difficult to deal with the feeling of failure, especially in a competitive environment like Lexington High School. However, by implementing some of these tips, you’ll be able to learn how to move past it and keep doing your best!

First, it’s important to talk to someone about it. Whether it’s with a friend, parent, or sibling, expressing your thoughts can often help you get through those difficult feelings. Bottling it up can lead to self-loathing and a sense of bitterness, which is detrimental to your mental health. By talking to someone you trust, you can work through these feelings in a healthy manner.

Second, be open to feedback. Learning from your experiences can always help you grow, even if you feel you already did your best. For example, if you didn’t do well on a test, then talk to your teacher about how you could improve your test-taking skills. Or, if you’re not getting as much playing time as you’d like, ask your coach what you can do to increase your chances. Although it may be intimidating, know that your teachers, coaches, and counselors are there to help, so don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. 

Finally, work towards improvement. The feedback you receive is useless if you don’t actually use it. Although it may be difficult to hear that you didn’t do the best you could, remember that there’s always room to grow. So, instead of fixating on what happened in the past, focus on the future. How can you improve so it doesn’t happen again? 

As someone who has dealt with failure myself, I know it can be extremely difficult to accept, especially when the only advice you may be given is to “get over it.” However, it’s important to understand that everyone slips up—it’s human! Your life is a marathon, not a sprint. So focus on the longer journey ahead of you, and trust that you will be able to achieve your goals.