Finding out that you failed a subject can be disheartening and embarrassing all at the same time. You will feel like everything in your life is falling apart. At the same time, it can also affect your mental health negatively. If it persists, there is a great possibility that you will feel anxiety, stress, and even depression, and counseling platforms like BetterHelp may not be enough to help you.
Because of all these, it is imperative on your part to know the different ways on how to handle a failing mark.
The first lesson that you need to understand is the fact that just because you failed a subject in your course does not necessarily mean that you are stupid or incompetent. Sometimes, you may have only taken the wrong approach in studying for the said subject, or your personal issues may be disturbing your concentration on academics. Therefore, you must not easily lose hope during this difficult time in your life. Guy Winch, Ph.D., says, “Everyone hates to fail, but for some people, failing presents such a significant psychological threat their motivation to avoid failure exceeds their motivation to succeed.” Below is a comprehensive list of the things that you can do:
Stop The Blame Game
Make sure to remind yourself that there is going to be no point in blaming yourself or your teacher. The best and ideal thing to do is to own up to your mistakes and move past the negative situation. Forgive yourself for messing up in your studies because there is still a high chance that you can succeed in the future, as long as you choose not to give up. Instead, be strong enough to face the adversities with your head held up high. Be happy and proud of what you have become or have accomplished and never let one failing mark bring you down.
Assess Your Performance
Learn the reasons why you have experienced a failing grade from a teacher. Make an effort to determine the primary causes for your mark so that you can think of better ways how to improve your actions. Stop denying to yourself that you made some errors while studying for that subject. Be mature enough to recognize all the things that you did wrong. Once you become aware of the said reasons, the next step is to find a way to reverse those actions or avoid doing them again for other subjects.
Talk To A Friend
As already mentioned above, there is a tendency that you may feel stressed and depressed because of the failing mark. Do not fret because that is only a typical reaction of any student who has suffered from a low grade. Fortunately, there are tons of ways how you can ease yourself from the burden. All you have to do is to get in touch with a friend whom you can trust. Look for that person who is more than willing to listen to everything that you have to say. Remember that expressing your thoughts and emotions is essential for improved mental health. Failure to do this can make you suffer even more. Be open about what you are going through so that others can also find a way how to help. “Hearing stories of other people’s resilience can help provide motivation but also help you challenge catastrophic thinking and remember that people are more than their test scores,” Kathleen Smith, PhD, LPC explains.
Get Up And Try Again
A student goes to college because he wants to graduate and become a successful professional in the future. For sure, this is also something that you want to happen in your life. The good news is that there is still a way on how to accomplish these objectives. Accept the fact that you had a failing mark but never settle. Fight for what you deserve, and that is to pass the subject that you failed for the first time. Do not be afraid to try again and implement some new changes in your study habits. You will be amazed at how you can improve after you give it another try. “You have to take those chances in order to progress. So, as difficult as it feels, try looking at failure as the opportunity that it is,” Kurt Smith, Psy.D., LMFT, LPCC, AFC encouraged.
Remind yourself that you are an amazing student and that you can do wonders.