I Failed Microbiology and I Aint Mad.

I failed my microbiology course, and surprisingly, I ain’t mad about it.

Of course, I would have loved to pass. Nobody signs up for a class planning to fail. I studied, showed up, completed assignments, and tried to understand material that was completely new to me.

Sometimes, even when you give something your effort, the outcome isn’t what you hoped for.

I’m learning to be okay with that.

With all new things come challenges. Going back to school has reminded me that growth doesn’t always look like winning.

Sometimes growth looks like struggling. Sometimes it looks like getting a grade you don’t want. Sometimes it means admitting, “I didn’t get it this time,” and deciding that you’re going to try again.

Microbiology challenged me in ways I wasn’t expecting. There were so many terms, concepts, organisms, and processes to learn. At times, I understood it, and other times I felt completely lost. But failing the course doesn’t erase everything I learned along the way.

Most importantly, I learned something about myself.

I learned that failure doesn’t have the power to embarrass me like it once might have. I’m not measuring my intelligence, worth, or future by one grade. This was one course during one season of my journey.

I can take the class again.

I can study differently.

I can ask for more help.

I can learn from what didn’t work the first time.

I can keep going.

There was a time when failure might have made me question whether I belonged in the room. Today, I understand that sometimes you have to be willing to be a beginner. You have to give yourself permission not to know everything immediately.

So no, I ain’t mad about failing microbiology.

I’m very proud that I tried something challenging. I’m proud that I made it through the experience. And when it’s time to face microbiology again, I’ll walk into that classroom with something I didn’t have the first time,experience.

Failure isn’t always the end of the story.

Sometimes it’s just your first draft.

I failed the class. I didn’t fail myself.

-Terrell Ellis

To My Sons,

I want you to understand that trying new things will stretch you, challenge you, and sometimes make you question yourself. Struggling at something new does not mean you are a failure. I never want you to become so afraid of failing that you stop trying. Keep exploring, learning, taking chances, and stepping outside your comfort zone. Every experience will teach you something. Keep trying new things, keep growing, and always believe in yourselves,even when it does’nt feel good.