Seeing the value in learning through failure

Many of us know that we will gain knowledge over the years at college. We will study, work in groups, and find travel to faraway places in unexpected ways. We fully expect to know “more” when we leave campus. However, as we encounter each assignment and test throughout the semester, we often struggle to embrace the process of learning (taking time and sometimes frustration) rather than knowing. And if we struggle on those early measures of knowledge, we may insult ourselves by saying we are “stupid,”, lamenting “I don’t know if I will be okay.”. But I caution you to hold such criticisms… as you have experienced before, growth is often painful. 

One of the most difficult realities of learning is that we are destined to learn more following mistakes, errors, challenge, and failure than we are following success. But we are naturally averse to failure. And when it comes to school, failure feels as if it means failure forever… no more career, family, independence, or life beyond. And it can be difficult to see beyond that fear that success is likely to follow, though perhaps in unexpected ways. The reminder I wish to offer you is that success may be hidden, likely appearing to you differently than you originally planned. You might need friends or other loved ones to put you back together again or rescue you from the loneliness of despair and doubt, but you are more likely to rebound than to drown.  

In order to build knowledge, we must use the tools that we have around us and that research has revealed to be helpful: mnemonics, repetition, memory-cues, and asking for help, to name a few. Mnemonics are strategies that assist in remembering and accessing previously-learned information (think ROY G BIV or “i before e except after c”). Repetition is the continual return to information to gain familiarity with the answer or topic (think flash cards). Memory-cues help you to connect information to other information you already have learned in order to create an association. Finally, utilizing others (professors, friends, TAs) for support in the process of learning the topic/information can ease the pain of learning. Check out the Study for additional support and skill building around learning! 

You are likely to face frustration as you learn here at college. College is, after all, hard. You are gaining knowledge about a broad range of topics you expected to learn about, some you didn’t, and many that you couldn’t have anticipated (especially about yourself). But these frustrations will likely take more than a hope and a wish to eliminate. You may need all of your courage and heart to confront these fears and frustrations in order to be patient, ask for help, and update your route to rediscover your home by building the knowledge you need for success. 

You have a wealth of resources here at CSB+SJU to support your growth and learning! If you have questions or are curious about how to get started, peruse myCSBSJU, check in with your advisor, make an appointment with the Well-Being Center, or ask your professor about what we have for you on campus!