Beneficial Failure? In the passage, “In Praise of the F Word,” Mary Sherry speaks about the propitious outcomes of failure as it incentivizes one to strive for greatness. Complimenting Sherry’s piece, “The Right to Fail,” William Zinsser demonstrates the significance of individualism in both success and failure, in that failure is fundamental to overcome individual obstacles. Although they differ on the types of failure that influences the individual, Sherry and Zinsser share similar views on utilizing failure to further progress one’s success. According to Sherry and Zinsser there are different forms of failure that can stimulate success. Sherry focuses on traditional failure, one easily known to everyone as “flunking,” arguing that “most …show more content…
Without fear lurking in the back of one’s mind, there is not enough motivation for one to learn the basic necessities of adulthood as well as life. In this case, the failure that motivates is a fear of flunking, or even then actually flunking. Sherry states that this type of failure isn’t only found in schools but also in a day to day basis. Whether it be not meeting deadlines a boss has set, or not meeting the personal expectations one sets for themselves. Parents should stand with the teachers as well-the teachers that threaten to flunk their child because without this very real possibility of failure, the student may never strive to do better. Sherry brings this up because she claims that without teachers carrying out their threat of flunking kids, students just barely pass school for being there without being prepared for real life, causing a string of problems to occur in the future. On the other hand Zinsser speaks of individualized failure and success. He claims that traditionally, “a boy or a girl who leaves college is branded a failure- and the right to fail is one of the few freedoms that this country does not grant its citizens” (Zinsser 525). America’s “motto” …show more content…
Sherry states that failure will lead to motivation that is just ample to jump start an individual to focus on their grades and do well in school. In support of this, Sherry speaks of a senior in high school who didn’t care about his grades until his mom informed him that he was going to fail his class and have to retake the course, and just like that “English became a priority in his life. He finished out the semester with an A” (Sherry 520). Along with Sherry, Zinsser also claims that “failure isn’t bad in itself” (Zinsser 526). Disproving the stigma that failure is incorrect and shouldn’t be thought of in that way. Zinsser further supports his statement by using examples from celebrity interviews, celebrities that have used their failures to set themselves on a path to success. One of the celebrities, Fred Zinnemann, an American-Australian film director claims,“I’ve learned a great deal from my failures” (Zinsser 526). While Richard Brooks, an American actor, said that “he learned more about his craft from this failure than from… many earlier hits” (Zinsser 527). It isn’t just common people that can utilize failure but it is everyone. Failure can be used by one and all to become successful to each their own. Both Sherry and Zinsser share a very similar perspective on the benefits of
Everyone strives to be the greatest, especially teenagers in school, failing can be upsetting when it comes to failing a class or grade. Failure in school can have a huge impact on a student's future. When students aim for a goal it's either accurate or precise depending on their mindset.
Mary Sherry talks about students who failed or just got by in school in the article “In Praise Of the F Word”. The fear of failing will only get people as far as they are willing to go if they are truly trying to better themselves it makes sense that failing would be a motivator. On the other hand, some people don’t care at all and failing is just part of their vocabulary. Mary reflects on how “high-school graduates and drop outs pursuing graduate-equivalency certificates will learn the skills they should have learned in school”. (1) For a lot of people the realization comes after they are out of school and realize that one of the only ways to move up and make more money is more education. Failing is only as affective as someone makes it the more serious someone takes failing the higher their chances of getting higher grades.
For me, my driver’s test was not the utmost detrimental failure that I have ever experienced, however, it is what came out of that failure, which makes it so significant. When contemplating this, a quote by John Wooden, one of the all-time best college basketball coaches, comes to mind “failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be”. The lessons that I acquire from my failures have made me capable of great personal enrichment, and have allowed me to look at failure
Failure and learning have a complicated, yet important relationship with each other. In ‘A Nation of Wimps’, Hara Marano writes about through trial and error humans can become successful. An article by Robert I. Sutton of the Harvard Business Review, talks about a method of learning from failures. Dr. Everett Piper describes in the article ‘This is Not a Day Care. It’s a University!’ that students who do not repent their sins can not learn from them. In the speech ‘This is Water’, by David Wallace he explains how learning to think is in a way knowing what to think about. An article by Bob Lenz titled ‘Failure Is Essential to Learning’ addresses the notion that failure is a key importance in the process of learning. Failure is an essential and important step in the difficult process of learning.
Another reason why the assignment of failing grades has decreased is the influence of the self-esteem movement, which promotes the assumption that children who do not have a positive self-image cannot learn or develop properly. Although this theory is widely accepted, it has been discredited by several studies. Recent research shows that, although American students felt more confident about themselves and their work, they were outperformed by several Asian countries on tests of elementary skills. American schools and teachers tend to worry more about the student’s self-esteem than the actual academic performance (Leo, “Damn” 21). Mary Sherry, a teacher of adult literacy programs, does not believe such theories. Her view is that students become motivated by the threat of failure, and that not failing a student not only shows lack of confidence on the teacher’s behalf, but also hurts the society as a whole. Employees are becoming highly disappointed with so-called “graduate” students (8).
Specifically, Cox argues that “ The many students who seriously doubted their ability to succeed, however, were anxiously waiting for their shortcomings to be exposed, at which point they would be stopped from pursuing their goals. Fragile and fearful, these students expressed their concern in several ways: in reference to college professors, particular courses or subject matter, and the entire notion of college itself-whether at the two- or the four- year level. At the core of different expressions of fear, however, were the same feelings of dread and the apprehension that success in college would prove to be an unrealizable dream.” ( 25-26). Although some believe that fear shouldn’t be an excuse to failure, whatever shape or form fear come in, the students who attend college should be grown enough to control it and not let
In Failure Is a Good Thing, author Jon Carroll refers to failure as a learning experience. Carroll explains that failure is needed for growth, that failure may keep a person “on their toes” so that they may never get too comfortable with what they are doing. He also goes on to state that failure is something that we should all strive for, ironically, in order to feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Carroll refers to his family, his friends, and his own experiences with failure and how they solidify his beliefs. Jon talks about his job as a columnist and how every week someone’s column has to be the lesser column.
After reading Failure is Not an Option by Nathan Wallace, we ponder whether failure is beneficial or not. However, after reading the passage, we stumble upon a quote where Wallace says “Failure is always an option. Failure can lead to great learning and progress when a specific failure is analyzed through the lens of a growth mindset.”
And if it is true that the lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success then I am right. This is where my path to success really begins. It is never late to start again. Small things that aren’t so small can have a big repercussion in someone's life. We as human beings need to learn how to be more loving, respectful and compassionate. I am so proud to be who I am today because of this past experiences. I believe almost everybody has had a time in their lives in which they failed, nobody is perfect. Failure indeed can be fundamental to later success, but the expectations of success are not what people think, at least for me, but I certainly know I'm not
William Zinsser says “ a failure- and the right to fail is one of the few freedoms” ( paragraph 3 and page 93). Your failures only help you and make you strong in achieving your American Dream. Steve Smith Jr. says “ I work hard out of fear… Fear of failure… Or me, i don’t want to go back to failure. I have nothing else but to work harder than the next man”. They used their struggles to there own advantages in achieving their dream and it has made them what they are today. People will say that failures can also ruin your chances and use evidence from Yezierska ‘I felt that the America of my dreams never was and never could be.” (paragraph 96 and page 21). Yezierska could have achieved more though she constantly received offers to help her achieve more but she didn’t want to risk failing, even though she is successful she pretty successful just imagine how much happier and better her life would have been if she would have not been afraid to fail and accept those offers. Everyone has the opportunity but it is their choice to decide how much they really want to achieve and be
In today’s society “failure” is dreaded by most people. In 2013 Oprah Winfrey deliver “The Harvard Commencement Speech” and in 2008 she spoke “The Stanford Commencement Speech,” which both spoke about overcoming failure. Throughout these speeches, the audience learns that failure is something everyone will experience. Winfrey teaches readers that failure may hurt, but failure helps everyone learn from their mistakes and allows them to become a better person. Winfrey tells readers about a time when she failed and instead of feeling sorry for herself, she allowed herself to exceed expectations and change her failure into something spectacular. Oprah Winfrey is an effective speaker because she uses rhetorical devices and
Many high school students do not want to hear the words, “you are going to fail”, but as will be seen that is exactly what they need to hear. In the article, “In Praise of the ‘F’ Word”, Mary Sherry states that students are not getting a good education and teachers should enforce the “F” word, meaning flunk. Sherry argues that students, especially high school seniors, are not getting the proper education they need to succeed, as many do not have the basic academic skills and are not well informed about those skills needed for their lives after high school. Furthermore, teachers should introduce the “F” word to their students and give them the realization of their future being in their hands.
Failure is one aspect of life that no one can avoid. The terror that comes from failure is that it has the power to break someone down to where they feel they can not get up and overcome the situation. Failing at a situation seems to make all hard work vanish in an instant, as if all the time and effort that was put forth into succeeding was never even there. Although failure can hurt and cause anxiety and even depression, it also allows a person to discover that even though they have been crushed they can still conquer it and succeed in the end.
Failure is apart of life, it can make or break a person. When a person experiences a type of failure it is now up to them to see how they respond. They can choose the high road, and become a stronger person for it. Then they can choose the low road, the easy way out. The easy way out is never a good choice. It can lead only to destruction. The high road is the right choice to take when responding to failure. It will lead down a path of success. Jessica Lahey’s article, “When Success Leads to Failure” is an article that shows how kids are experiencing failure. Lahey says that, “these kids have a fear for failure, and that they have given up natural loves for learning. They are scared of not being successful”(Lahey). The truth is life is hard there will be failure. There is nothing in this world that comes easy to anyone.
“The failure is the mother of success” this Chinese quote said that failure is not the end. Failure is where people learn from their mistake. People cannot be successful all the time. Indeed, there are many people who learned from their failures before being successful. Each failure that people had met is a helpful lesson and valuable experience to help them become a better person.