As I think of all of the fresh interested minds in today’s youth, it fills me with warmth to see dreams still glowing fresh. It also reminds me of when I was their age – wide-eyed and ready to take on the world. In this journey called life, we often hear about these twin siblings named Success and Failure who keep each other company all throughout the year, but particularly in those turbulent teenage years. So today, let’s unpack how they are similar and different, seen from a teenager’s window.
The Fickle Nature of Time (A Temporary Status)
First things first: Recognize that success and failure are temporary labels. They might seem like indestructible fortresses to young eyes, but trust me; they crumble as time passes by. What you consider a failure today could just be a stepping stone towards tomorrow’s success. The key is to understand that these tags aren’t endorsed by the ‘certificate-of-permanency’, rather they are like tides that keep shifting with the ebb and flow of time.
Shared Origin: Efforts, Risks, Decisions
Both success and failure are born out of efforts, risks taken, decisions made – they coexist in this respect. It’s somewhat akin to an athlete training hard day in, day out. He may not win every race but without those attempts, there would be no growth. Each ‘unwon’ race teaches something, which can prove pivotal in winning the next one. Similarly, that ‘D’ grade on your report card may hurt today, yet it could lead you towards understanding your weaker areas better next time.
The Intriguing Case of Perspective
This little fellow can turn a failure into an experience and vice versa. For instance, getting rejected from your dream college might seem like the end of the world today but trust me, looking back years later, you’d see how it shaped your life differently and maybe for the better. This perspective shift often reveals that failure was necessary for your eventual success – just think about Cinderella losing her glass slipper at the ball or some of the Saints who didn’t make it to their first choice for Religious Order (but still became Saints!).
The Nurturing Soil of Resilience
Lastly, and most importantly, remember that while success feeds your pride, failure cultivates resilience – an invaluable asset throughout life. Adversity, after all, doesn’t build character; it reveals it. It’s in the face of defeat we learn how strong our spirit truly is, how deep our determination runs. Teenage years are indeed a time when these qualities get polished to a gleam under the fire of challenges.
So my dear teenagers, brace yourselves for this exhilarating ride. Embrace both success and failure because remember, life’s not about avoiding falls; it’s about learning to pick yourself up each time you do. So keep pushing forward, no matter what label you’re currently wearing. As St. Th?r?se of Lisieux, a great role model for young ones like you, once said, “I believe in the strength of Prayer and the Power of Perseverance.” And I do too!
God bless, my young friends! Keep soaring high with your dreams.