cadet blogs

A Taste of Failure

(Academics, Class of 2015) Permanent link All Posts

Well I’ve made it past midterms of my first semester here at the Academy and that in itself feels like a significant accomplishment. The first half of my semester was full of many challenges and many opportunities to grow and improve myself. But I don’t take a single one of those lessons for granted because I strongly believe that learning those kinds of things are one of the most valuable experiences of the Academy. One of the most significant of these lessons came to me this semester when I received my first “F” on a Calc 2 exam. Receiving that grade was the most disappointing and disheartening experiences I’ve had here. But I’ve quickly learned that it’s what you do after you receive a grade like that that really matters. It’s the process of getting back up after a failure and learning from your mistakes and what you can do to improve, that really defines you as a student.

I know for myself it has been about taking the results from that test and realizing how I need to adjust my study habits to do better next time, instead of dwelling on the unsatisfactory grade. It has also made me recognize how important it is to establish a relationship with your professors. When you go to your professors for help and they begin to get to know you and understand your strengths and specific areas that you need help, they more than able and willing to mentor and help you improve. All of the instructors here really care about the students and I have found that they are always making a constant effort to make themselves available to the students for extra help. But the most important thing is that you show that you care and that you make an effort to meet with your teachers and do whatever you can to improve yourself. If you demonstrate that you are willing to put forth the effort, then your professors are going to be willing to put forth the extra effort to help you.

This place challenges me every day and I absolutely love it. This is my first blog entry and throughout the years I hope I get a chance to share some insightful and authentic experiences as a cadet. I could not see myself at any other school, but I’ll be honest when I say it is not an easy place. But it’s a place where I can get up every morning knowing that I’m working to prepare to be a leader in an organization with a mission much bigger than myself, and that’s something you can’t find anywhere else.

More about Adam.

Posted by Leann Strickland at 2/17/2012 8:37 AM