Celebrating Failure


This is my 2nd semester at UF online, and as a 2nd time around student things have definitely been different. During my first bachelor’s degree, I worked 35 hrs a week, was an officer of my Professional Engineering Fraternity was an avid FSU football and basketball fan (sorry guys), and spent my free time studying or blowing off steam from my engineering deadlines and taking many trips across the state or Southeast area whenever possible. As crazy hectic as that sounds, I was used to the chaos and was surrounded by a group of friends and support group who was doing the same thing. It has been about 4 years since I left Tallahassee and have since moved, started a career, and decided to go back to school to pivot my career. I have to say that school the second time around isn’t more difficult content wise, but it is difficult to carve out time to study, read, do quizzes, or whatever other assignments I may have. The past 2 semesters have been a difficult adjustment to understand how to be ok with “being average.”
As a known perfectionist, if I studied for an entire weekend for a test I would be rewarded with an A at the end of it, take a nap and keep going. My life is no longer set up in that form. I have work deadlines, relationships, and life events that come up that you have a responsibility to be there for. I do not have any children myself, and I commend anyone who chooses to go through this program with a family. It has been difficult to keep track of my own schedule much less a whole other person. Honestly, I have not gotten better than a 87 on any test I have taken at UF which doesn’t sound so bad but I find myself frustrated with how I may have 10 hours total to do all school work for the week and just have to deal with it. I have had to lower the bar and understand that the reason for going back for a 2nd degree was for the content knowledge, not to get good grades and get a job, and as long as I was retaining and committing the information into practice than that was as good as I could do.
I think I handle failure differently depending on the situation. My perspective is very different now than when I was in undergrad. Missing a deadline at work is a non-starter so if that means working till 9pm then so be it. I think I have learned to focus and work hard and if I fail, I have tried my best and move forward. I don’t have time to dwell on missteps but to understand how they happened and how to prevent them in the future. I don’t think I am more likely to take a risk than a few months ago, but this class has shown me different ways of cost benefit analysis to make a better decision knowing my strengths.

Comments

  1. Shivani DaveApril 17, 2020 at 11:13 AM

    Hi Orlantha, I completely agree with your approach to failure. There are often times when unintended situations come up and we can't finish assignments on time, or do as well as we would like on exams. However, through everything, keeping a positive mindset is very important. Learning from your past mistakes and understanding how you can become better, is important so that the past failures don't occur again!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reading Reflection No. 3

1)      What was the general theme or argument of the book? In How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big , Scott Adams talks about how you should put yourself first in order for you to be successful. This is not a typical way of being “selfish” but rather 3 ways to make sure that you put yourself in the best position so you can be successful in what you want. He describes the 3 ways as looking after yourself by being healthy in order to put yourself in good head space by eating right, sleeping, and avoiding emotional distress. He also talks about looking after your economics which includes your job so you do not burden your family and friends. The 3 rd is look after all the other things which include your family, community, country, and world. 2)      How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003? Throughout the book, Adams talks about investing in yourself in order to achieve suc...
Read more

Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

Regulatory Changes: Trump Administration ends OSHA program protecting workers from developing Silicosis (Lung disease) Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/10/02/766028237/workers-are-falling-ill-even-dying-after-making-kitchen-countertops I read about this repeal through an NPR list of EPA rollbacks of the Trump Administration I believe there is an opportunity to offer the same regulations of the program which start with manufacturing of the engineered stone used for kitchen counter tops. Who: I believe the customer will be there companies who build and fit these countertops (contractor companies) and also Union workers. This opportunity might be difficult to exploit because it requires companies to purchase materials from companies who manufacture a safer manufactured stone. Making an active choice to purchase downstream instead of changing the manufacturing process in all manufacturing companies like a Government regulation would. I believe there is...
Read more

Reading Reflection No. 1

For this assignment I read Miracles Happen by Mary Kay Ash 1)       As someone who has not had many interactions with Mary Kay line other than my mom bringing home Mary Kay Products when I was younger, I honestly was surprised to hear that the type of product selling had never existed before. I admired the most that this was a company based on the Golden Rule- which meant women were created equal and it was a way for them to make money outside the home. Although many startup companies at the time relied on family support, she took a large risk bringing her family into the business without knowing if it would be a success. I don’t think I would have risked my child’s career for my gain. I believe that starting the company. The reason she started her company was to battle the adversity of gender equality in the workplace and create a business where women could take sales into their own hands without any male counterparts. Her early classes were all based on...
Read more