I messed up big time, yesterday I had a huge test and for wich I studied hard, I knew how to solve it and actually did everything right when it comes to the main problem, but I made a mistake on a sign and it made all my final answers wrong. I'm so afraid, I've never failed a course and I really know what I have to know about this course, I just got it wrong because I got distracted and randomly changed that sign, I had been practicing for weeks
asked by someone ·
26 replies
- the person who asked
And I got really good at it, but somehow, deep inside, I feel like I knew i was going to fail this way, I kinda knew I was going to make this mistake, I asked my professor but he said he wouldn't give partial credit, he would just check if you got the answer right or wrong, he hasn't graded the test yer but I'm freaking out
- someone who replied
Tough situation and hard to wait. You will learn an important lesson from this and it will be more important from this test score.
- the person who asked
Not really, this has happened before and, sadly, I keep making the same mistakes, I can't help it
- someone who replied
Ugh. That is terrible. Do you ever check your work? I used to do the test and then do it all over again to check my answers were correct to minimize the chances of those mistakes. Something to consider. But it’s also important that school is about developing habits. Getting an a on this test isn’t going to be that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. But what skills you develop to prepare and perform will. It’s ok to be mad and worry
- someone who replied, again
But use it as fuel for your next one instead of a reason to beat yourself up now. What’s done is done and I promise it’s not the end.
- the person who asked
Of course, I always check my work but only when I have the chance, but this time I had just the right amount of time to solve, also, yes, I wanted an A but I get it, it might not happen and I'm fine with that, but I'm really afraid because I really think I can fail the course and I think I don't deserve it because I really know what I have to know and I worked really hard, I've never studied as much for a test
- the person who asked
It feels like I'm sabotaging myself
- someone who replied, again
Hum. Sounds like you were really prepared for the test though if you were shooting for an a. Were you really close to failing the class then or to you does a b mean ‘failure’?
- the person who asked
No, I mean, like failing failing as for F failing
- someone who replied, again
How come you feel like you are sabotaging yourself?
- the person who asked
Because I was so prepared, I studied really hard but somehow I kinda knew I would fail because of this
- someone who replied, again
Do you have a tendency of expecting yourself to make a mistake or expecting yourself to screw up? In school or anything really?
- the person who asked
Not expecting it, but I'm always "aware" of it, it also kinda frightens me
- someone who replied, again
Is it because it offers you an opportunity to be right? Like a way to morally hedge yourself to the outcome of whatever you are doing
- the person who asked
I don't think so, I really wanted an A because I know I have what it takes to get it, but maybe I think I don't deserve it
- someone who replied, again
Interesting. Don’t deserve it, why not? What is it about you(who you are) that makes you think that way?
- the person who asked
It's weird because a friend I really trust told me I was wrong and I had enough time to fix my mistake but I don't really know why I didn't, I guess I thought I was right
- someone who replied, again
We all make mistakes. They are not fun but they need not spoil what we think of ourselves or others.
- the person who asked
I mean, I don't know, maybe I feel like I'm not meant to success at this because almost everyone I know had a harder time as a student, also I hate to say this but it makes me feel "superior" and I think this could be a way to make myself more down to earth, does it make any sense?
- someone who replied, again
Yes. It does make sense and thank you for sharing. You don’t need to dumb yourself down or be ashamed of your gifts. It’s ok to have a different experience than others. True misery brings company but it need not be something that weighs one down as a means of connecting. You can connect with people on other things.
- the person who asked
Maybe, this may sound weird, but I also think this could be a lesson to make me more empathic and helpful with others
- the person who asked
But it's really weird for me to think this happens very often
- someone who replied, again
It could be. Could be a lesson to be more empathetic towards others. Could also be a lesson to be more empathetic to yourself. Perhaps a lesson in kindness
- the person who asked
Yes, I tend to be very selfish when it comes to knowledge, like I don't owe anything to anyone so I don't give any help, I didn't use to be this way tough, it started when I started college, I guess I just felt the competitive world we live in, but what can I do to make thinga better if I make it out of this?
- someone who replied, again
You’ll make it out. And you’ll make this better if you intend to. You need not doubt yourself. Again, thank you for sharing those things. It takes courage to share and simply by sharing you are building awareness in yourself so that you can recognize it in the future and choose if that or some other decision is the truest expression of yourself in that moment.
- the person who asked
Thank you so much
