How to cope with failure?

Question

just took abcte exams. a defining moment in my life. im 29 who never really had any stable job. passing the exam would have spelled all the difference. there are 2 exams. i passed one and failed the other. in short i failed the whole thing. i tried to prepare for it. its just so disheartening for someone who never failed in exams and who graduated c u m laude in english. im so sad. i feel like im facing a big blank wall. i dont anymore know where to go or what to do.

Answer 1

I know you're feeling bad at the moment, but how you come through this will depend on your attitude. Allow yourself some time to feel disappointed, then pick yourself up and dust yourself off. Find out where you went wrong, and try again at a later date. In the meantime, do all that you can to prepare. Or.... maybe try a new direction. Think about your positive attributes, what your friends and the people who love you see in you. And remember, successful people have failed exams, hit brick walls, received knockbacks, lost jobs, been broke etc. Their defining moments were in how they handled these situations, and fought back, held on to their dreams, and stayed positive. Don't view what happened as failure. Just see it as a temporary set-back. After all, you're the guy who graduated c u m laude in english! You ARE successful! I wish you all the best - and sorry I got carried away and ended up sounding like a greeting card.

Answer 2

First off, you should realize that everyone goes through moments like this in their life. Yeah it sucks, but it can tell you a lot about where your life is headed. I see it as a second chance for you to reevaluate the situation. If you really want to pass the exam you'll study hard and take it over again. Another option is to give up and pursue another career or avenue. Something to ask your self is, are you upset because you failed the exam and you can't pursue the career you really want? Or are you upset because you failed at something.

Another way to look at it is: I know that if a calculus test was put in front of me right now I would fail it miserably. I hate math and have no ambition to pursue a career in mathematics. I therefore could study really hard and pass the test, and then decide to go into mathematics and be miserable. Or I could just say, ok, this wasn't what I wanted to do and so I will study something else.

Answer 3

It's pretty normal to feel really down when you fail an exam, major or not. This could very well be a turning point in your life. However, it really looks like you still have options. For one, you could retake the exam. Now that you've been through it once, chances are good you have an idea what went wrong with the part of the exam you failed. If you retake it, you stand a much better chance of passing.

Or, it may be the point in time when you realize this isn't going to be the best option for a life vocation for yourself. It may be time to take stock of your strengths and weaknesses and discover what you're even better at.

I'll give you a for instance. My daughter started college but found academics was not for her. She failed her 3rd semester and quit. She took a couple of years off and worked at jobs that stressed her out, even though she did them well. Finally she'd had enough and went back to school to become a massage therapist. She loved the coursework and the hands on massage work. However, she failed myology the first semester. This time, however, she was certain of what she wanted, retook myology and passed it the 2nd semester. She went on to pass her board exams on her first try. However, she took those exams with a girlfriend who was retaking them for the 4th time!

If the career that exam would allow you to have is really worth it and you feel it's a good fit for you, retake the exam and use the experience on the first one to help you pass it the 2nd time. If you doubt the fit of the career for you, take the time to explore other options. Even at 29, it's not too late.

Answer 4

Well done for passing your exam!
Stop thinking about the one you failed and try giving yourself a break by thinking about the exam that you've passed.
See it as a test.
If you had passed both first time, you'd never question where you were going with your life. Use the bad exam to question whether it's what you really want from your life.
If you're sure and adamant that it really is what you want from your life, then use that motivation and desire to drive you through the resit to success...You can pass all the exams in the world, but if you spend your life doing something you don't deep down want to do, then you can never truly succeed. Remember also that every journey is made up of individual little steps and everybody trips on their shoelaces once in a while! Pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start all over again! Best of luck.

Answer 5

You are not the first person to face this. I know it hurt to be a failure, but you know what there is always a second chance for improvement and that is the beauty of life. I am studying for medical exam myself and this exam will make me or brake me. But i can tell you this i know i paid so much money to take the exam and the effort i put to prepare for it. I am ready to see the out come i am staying positive if i pass good for me but if i don't i am not going to stop here i will take it again. So my friend try again and again that is what life is all about trying your very best. Best of luck!

Answer 6

Did you want to TEACH? Get back to doing that. Take the exam again, whenever you can.

Do some freelance writing. Talk to newspapers and magazines in your area to find out what they are looking for. This can be a part time venture, while you seek other and better opportunities.

Answer 7

Welcome to Life, the real world. There's always the first time for everything, including failing at an attempted. How to cope with it you ask, learn from it. Taking test is a skill in itself, and they are designed to "trip" you up. So, don't give up, try and try again.
Think of it as a game, and therefore you must know all the rules, and pit falls. Studying and practice is your key for the next test.
Don't Give Up.
check out this site...http://www.mo-media.com

Answer 8

You have not failed, it's just a minor set back.
Look at the test, as a practice run for the next.
Study again like you have never studied before.
Make arrangements to take the test again.
Good Luck.

Answer 9

Failure really is a stepping stone to a better life. Without failure, how do you know success? Breathe and take the exam again.

Answer 10

Keep in mind that tests are man made obstacle courses, and shouldn't have as much significance as they do. Unfortunately, in our society, they are over valued and individualism is under valued. Don't lose heart though, perhaps you need to focus on something more creative. I would advise that you seek what inspires you the most. Perhaps writing would be something you would enjoy. Writing about your struggles, even depression, can be healing for you and beneficial to others.