When I began high school, I believed I knew everything: myself, my future career path, and the exact mold my life would fill out. But as time has passed, I’ve realized how much I don’t know.

Throughout most of my high school career there has been an almost palpable pressure on me that’s slowly been crushing me. A self imposed stress to constantly be the best for fear of failure. In environments like a high school, which is notoriously difficult socially, this pressure is amplified. 

But life is not a competition; we are not defined by the negatives of the environments we are put in. Moreover, this fear of failure has not helped propel me further, as I anticipated, but has been an obstacle. 

Failure looks different for everybody. No matter the form it takes for you, it’s important to remember that you can come back even if you think you have failed. In each failure, there are lessons to be learned and new experiences to be gained if allowed. 

I think that one of the worst things to self impose is a fear of failure so strong that it kills your curiosity. I don’t believe that I will ever be done learning, nor do I believe that anybody is truly ever done learning. I define learning as not only new skills and knowledge but also new perspectives. We all have affinities which of course should be explored, but it’s also important to continue learning in fields where you aren’t as knowledgeable. 

What you learn in high school are skills to support future learning – ways to research, organize your thoughts, and present them in an articulate manner. If you are planning to continue your education or learn a trade, I hope that you continue to be as curious as possible. Life is not defined by failures and triumphs but by the experiences and lessons you gain. I certainly will try to remember this as I go off to continue my education.