ABOUT FAILURE
Last September I began my second consecutive application for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, which would allow me to qualify as a Chartered Clinical Psychologist. The application process - which includes personal statements, selection tests and interviews - spans and entire year. This time around, I was called for an interview from one of the courses, a significant step forward from the previous year where I received four straight rejections at the first stage. Despite knowing how competitive the Doctorate program is and how slim my chances were, I felt confident that I would secure a place on that course (call it manifesting, if you like). However, in May 2024, I received my rejection email, marking the second year in a row I din’t get into any of the courses I applied to.
Only those who have pursued similarly competitive career paths truly understand the pain of such repeated failures, and the awareness that there is no guarantee that next year will be any different. For me, there was an additional layer of disappointment: starting the doctorate would not only mean progressing in my career but also a much-needed increase in salary - something I couldn’t achieve through any other means in the immediate future. So, no wonder that I was very upset when I received my rejection email.
Knowing how challenging the process would be, I made sure to let people in my life know about my interview. At first, I was concerned about having to tell everyone I had failed if I were rejected. but I needed the love and support from those around me, and that’s exactly what I received, even after I delivered the bad news. I do’t believe in the “evil eye”; I trust that the positive energy from myself and the people who love me will always outweigh any negative vibes from those who might wish to see me fail.
This experience made me think about the issue of failing publicly in today’s world. When you share parts of your life on social media, you run the risk of failing in front of an audience. Posting pictured with a partner invites questions if those pictures disappear after a breakup. Sharing your university journey can lead to scrutiny if your career path doesn't end up aligning with your major. And posting about career progress might make a possible decision to switch paths later on obvious to everyone.
Yes, nowadays we do fail publicly. But is failure inherently negative?
Despite what others have told me I do see this rejection as a failure. For me, the fact that I won’t be doing what I had planned this coming October is a failure in itself. But this dos not mean that I attach a negative meaning to the word “failure”. Failing simply means you tried to achieve something but didn’t succeed in the end. Your perception of failure, or how you react to it can be negative, but this does not mean that failure is negative in itself.
This is why I decided to view this failure differently. I am choosing to see it as an opportunity. I firmly believe that any failure is an opportunity. No, I’m asking myself “If the Doctorate isn’t what I’m meant to do, then what is?” The answer seems to lie in my personal business, which I now have more time to nurture and hopefully see grow thanks to this failure. Also, I am not giving up hope - I plan to apply again for the Doctorate in the next cycle, and I will use the last failure as a tool to improve this year’s application. I will try to understand what went wrong and how I can turn next year unto a success.
When we view negative experiences as opportunities we open ourselves up to growth and improvement and we develop a positive outlook on life, which means attracting better opportunities. Yes, we do fail. But failure can be a good thing if we want it to be.
So, here I come - third application in a row. Wish me luck!
Lessons learned:
Expecting the best but facing the worst can be though, yet it’s important to keep holding onto optimism. A positive outlook can be the key to a fulfilling life, and to attract good opportunities your way.
Don’t fear the “evil eye” or the possibility of letting others down. Share your journey with those who care about you and be open to receiving their love and support.
Failure can be daunting, especially in a world where it’s often on display. Feeling disappointment after a setback is natural, but viewing failure as an opportunity will help you grow, improve as a person and open up to better things.