FAILING - Blog Posts
its the way chayanne only died bc he was trying to help phil and tallulah, he was still up and could've swam away once he revived phil, but that just isn't how chayanne is, is it? he had to die protecting someone. even if it meant nothing in the end and they all died.
its the way tallulah was in the middle of writing a sign, her most prominent form of communication. it's how she was frantically scribbling something down to phil and was downed during it. it's how she died right next to the other two, even when chayanne was trying to get to them. it's how she's only been on this planet for a week, less, and already has died and come back to life
its how phil was trying to stay calm and yet was frantically telling chayanne to res him so he could get to tallulah, it's how he realised there was no hope, he just started apologising to chayanne, over and over, told him that the island didn't want them to live, was so upset that he called upon the island itself to fix its mistake or incur his fucking wrath
And I'm officially insane,
❄️DAYS 2+3 OF PRODUCTIVITY❄️
Apologies for the missed post. I haven’t gone anywhere.
Time has flown by. Still working on this lab report it would seem as my numbers are just not adding up.
Looking at it with fresh eyes today so have decided to redo my calculations and fix this. Also didn’t make it into uni so have caught up on any lectures I missed.
Wish me luck 😭.
"But that part of us greater than the sum of our parts cannot begin and cannot end, and so it cannot fail."
-John Green, Looking for Alaska
I’m In For The Ride
I find it funny that
White roses tarnish with age
I'm scared my love
Will have wrinkles the next time I will meet
Will it be you or me at the welcome mat?
Maybe I will keep your coat hanger for my rage
Like Cinderella shoe, or someone’s glove
I keep your writing as a treat
I'm in need of a deep conversation
And I think you'd be perfection
I wonder your thoughts on bottling up fear
And using the pressure like a Coke and Mentos rocket
Blast off with irritation
And safety goggles for protection
We could talk about what we think of Shakespeare
And girls pockets
When it comes to talking
I just don’t know how or where to start
Maybe I'm in need of a brave summer vacation
I have don’t have many ideas though
I just have to keep a rolling and a rocking
I also have to learn how to part
With hesitation
Learn how to jump head first into something when people are saying no
I have to learn to not think, just do
Every time I go around I want to reach for the gold rings
And see everything I can see before I can’t see
I want to know that if I failed, at least I tried
I find it funny how we all do the same motions but are different each time we carry them through
How we change slowly and want and need different things
I'm scared and I want to break free to be me
Lets see where life will show me and take me to, I'm in for the ride
Grades
Just watching your grades drop down to failure
What specific grade makes you a failure?
At what point are you considered a success?
If a 65 is passing, what’s so bad about a 64?
Are you a failure if you have a 0?
Or are you beating the system of grades;
And beating the government?
The difference between a 100 and a 0
Is just one
One point, that’s all
So let me make a good one
When we meet we shall laugh about those bad grades
And those teachers who said you were going nowhere
And all the classes that laughed at you and took you as a joke
School doesn’t teach you life; life does that
School is just an old factory that produces brainwashed people
You are taught to want to graduate and move onto college
Then get a job, fall in love and have a family
But for you and me
We need something different!
I need advice. I've always had a problem with my grades. I've failed a lot of classes, not because I don't understand, just because I'm so depressed I can't find the motivation to do a single thing. I know that this year I NEED to get good grades. Report cards are almost out. Im more depressed now then ever. I have bad grades at the moment. I just recently learned that I have to put my cat down, and that is making it hard for me to even speak, let alone get stuff done. Any advice
/hugs/ I’m so sorry to hear that you’re going through a rough time. Especially with your cat.
First thing is first: take time. From what you’ve written, it doesn’t sound like the content of your classes is causing you trouble. Rather, it seems like there’s external factors that’s preventing you from studying - circumstances which are triggering your depression etc.
Studying with depression is difficult. Consider professional help as an option. Rely on your support network. Learn to forgive yourself for not performing at your best because of your mental illness. Remember - it is something to be managed; not a barrier to your success.
I’d also consider speaking with your faculty/ advisor etc. There may be formal avenues of review or adjustments to where/ when you take your exams and/or deadlines that may help relieve the stress in the interim as you get back on your feet.
Here’s some tips re: motivation
Five Practical Study Tips to Keep Motivated in School by @nag-aaral/ @sadgirlstudying (working link by @pas-au-talent)
Motivation by @areistotle
Motivation masterpost by @elkstudies
Motivation masterpost by @artkidstudies
Tips for avoiding burnout and staying motivated by @coffeesforstudiers
And for dealing with failure:
Dealing with Failure
Shit Grade? Feeling better after a terrible exam
This response
And this one
And this one here
On Bad Semesters by @post–grad
This Masterpost by @areistotle
How to Fail by @psychstudyblr
Good luck - give yourself time. Focus on “how” (not just a demand - ‘need’) to get exams. Celebrate your victories - not matter how small. Because it’s going to be a slow process. But you’ll get there. It may not be the ‘perfect’ solution or the perfect ‘result’ you want - but hell, we’re human. It keeps things interesting.
Based on this post
“Failure is the key to success"
We’ve all heard motivational quotes similar to the above. While they serve as an important reminder on our rough days, sometimes we need something more than hugs and well wishes to get us through.
You’ve failed. What next?
Let it out: Step back. Take a few days off. Shower, catch up on that sleep debt. Remind yourself of who you are outside your academic study. Catch up with a friend for coffee (or just get some coffee). Watch a movie, marathon a tv series, built a pillow fort, tumblr, youtube spiral - anything. Because your academic life is only one piece (of varying size) of a larger puzzle. Remind yourself of who you are outside of university/ school.
Formal/ Informal Avenues of Review : Check your school/university’s academic policies. Are you eligible to resit the exam? Were there any extenuating circumstances that affected your performance (e.g. medical, emergency etc)? Are you eligible to seek an adjustment to your marks? If you’re eligible, what documentation will you need to provide? Which staff member can you contact to follow up your application? If you’re not eligible, are there any other members of staff or advisor (e.g. course advisors, councillors, student leaders) you can discuss your circumstances with?
Reset, Recuperate, Retake: It is likely that you will need to repeat or retake the class/ assessment/ unit. That’s ok. Seek feedback from your lecturer/ tutor or teacher. Consolidate your strong areas. Focus on the areas of the course you find challenging. Use the feedback given to target your study time!
Same Shit, Different Day: While the content may be the same, using a different method to study may be more effective ( see below)
Same content? Change it up!
flashcards by @illolita,
colour coding
audio recordings by @riseandstudy,
mindmaps by @reviseordie
sticky notes @etudiance
Change your study habits by @whilwheaton
Practice past papers. (see below).
Something to help you get back up on your feet
Videos and speeches to help you push through
On being wrong
On regret
On making difficult choices
On what the fuck to do with your life
On "falling behind”
On rushing things
On success
On motivation - for recent graduates
On perspective by @fishingboatproceeds
Just do it
Find songs to cry and scream to
8tracks and this spotify playlist
Classical music for any mood by @violaboss
Find something on the Nostalgia Machine
Infinite Jukebox
Make your own music
IDGAF by Watsky “Let me tell you about my GPA, four-O, straight A’s and my- idgaf!”
Something to help you fucking laugh or smile
Honest Trailers
Dance Mashup
Thomas Sanders @thatsthat24
This kid and this kid
Goat Remixes
This vine
Need more?
Cute flash games (+amazing background music)
Motivation wall by @study-ings
Mug Cake by @sortedfood
Calming Manatee
Ultimate motivation song
SCREAM INTO THE VOID (personal favourite)
Things to remember
Oi, have you ever failed anything?
Yes. See here
Graduation is a journey.
Yes, studyblr makes studying look glamourous, neat, aesthetic, "oh, look how these _____ notes helped me get an A+.” But writing notes, having fancy pens, using apps (whilst useful) only form one part of a larger narrative.
The reality is much less appealing. The road to graduation is not a fairytale. The road to graduation is fucking tough. It may involve tears, frustration, all nighters, crippling anxiety and unhealthy levels of caffeine consumption. One set back does not knock you off the path to graduation. Setbacks are arguably a part of the journey.
Sometimes, hard work and effort will not translate into results.
There’s a special brand of frustration that comes with dedicating the past month/week/ year to a particular project and not achieving your desired result/ grade. It stings like a bitch and is often accompanied by a sense of doubt.
Check that you’ve followed your syllabus. Accept that there may have been factors outside of your control. Revisit the process - what did you enjoy? What did you learn from the mechanics of the process?
The value of hard work does not necessarily lie in the result attained; nor is the result attained a reflection of the worth of your efforts.
Experience is an advantage
Retaking the test/assessment/ unit can be an advantage. You know what questions to expect. More importantly, you know how you react under exam conditions. Prepare. Plan your exam time. Will you start the exam paper from the beginning or the end and work backwards?
Use this experience in those pesky interview questions! (e.g. the good ol’ “tell me about a time you failed”)
Perfection is not a prerequisite to success
Ah, my pesky perfectionist tendencies. At times, I must remind myself that I don’t need to be perfect in order to reach my goal. Not having the latest app, 10 different coloured pens, that fancy notebook, the newest edition of the textbook does not mean I’ve automatically failed. I just have to be more resourceful.
Just start. Work with what you have, to the best of your ability. Yes it may be difficult; you might need to access extra resources online, or find material from other sources. Your notes may all be in the same colour, or spread over three different notebooks. But success will not be an option unless you start.
Other useful tips
On bad semesters by @post–grad
This masterpost by @areistotle
Reducing stress by @mindpalacestudy
How to fail by @psychstudyblr
A final note…
You’ve probably been through hell to get to where you are. Celebrate your achievements - don’t diminish them. Build a support network (heck, at the very least make a youtube playlist of funny videos). You’ve passed an exam before. You’ve endured X number of years of formal academic education. Sure, each exam is slightly different and each comes with its customised brand of torture. No two exams are exactly the same. But have confidence in yourself - you’ve picked up some transferrable skills along the way - determination, resilience, the endurance to pull all nighters.
Whether you’ve been a straight A student up to this point, a masters student or top of the academic pyramid, failure is going to be one of those annoying things you’ll eventually face.
What you do with it?
Well, that’s where shit gets interesting.
All the best,
-fuckstudy
Masterposts are posted every other Monday (asia pacific)/ Sunday (everywhere else). See previous masterposts here. Feel free to request topics here.
previous topic: law 101 - how to read case law
I just remembered that a couple days ago, I wrote a speech from the perspective of the Lucky Charms mascot (L.C. Leprechaun). It was about him suing three kids for harassment and stuff like that.
And then I delivered the speech in A BAD IRISH ACCENT IN FRONT OF MY WHOLE CLASS (per my teachers request) and I am going to get an actual grade for it. HAHAHA guess who's failing public speaking