The Success of Failure

by Alexander Smith

They say failure is not an option. I've heard that in education, I've heard it in sports: "We have to win, failure is not a option". Well, my team never won state, and I never got straight A's - so failure was an option.

Failure is only not an option when there is no other alternative or if the outcome of failure is unthinkable. "We have to defeat Nazi German, failure is not an option," "I have to get this job to pay my rent, failure is not an option," "I have to save my child from a burning building, failure is not an option,"... In order for failure not to be a option you literally have to have your back to a cliff or have the prospect of failure be so horrible that it inspires you to greatness. With that truth made clear, is failure an option in America?

Is failure an option in high school? Most definitely. When the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) became a graduation requirement, over 30% didn't pass the required sections, so they lowered the standards to have more people pass. The power of failure! The same was true of our senior project, it was a "pass or fail", but there was almost no way to fail. Even if you didn't do it they would find "alternative projects" for the student to do to "pass".  

Sadly in America failure can be a better option then success. As many prospective and current college students know, the majority of scholarships go to either really rich or poor individuals. If you're middle class, you're don't have the income to spend on your son or daughter for special classes and hobbies that can bring with them opportunities for college scholarships. If you're poor there is a whole world of scholarships open for you, because of the choices of your parents. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have scholarships for the poor, but you shouldn't create incentives for people not to save and be reasonable with what they have. I come from a mid to upper low income bracket. My parents are teachers, and for most of my life one stayed at home. I was neither rich nor poor but because my parents saved too much, I didn't qualify for scholarships and still couldn't really afford to go to college. I picked up jobs in college and during the summer to pay for school because I had no other options.

For a lot of people in my generation government money and welfare programs pay for the services and life styles of those who don't really need it. I have friends that are 19 that are on welfare, but they don't want to get a job because they could lose their welfare money. I know college students that spend all their money on beer and liquor but get food stamps. The power of failure! Why save when others will front the bill?

Even TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) has provisions for debt forgiveness, so if you spent too much money and couldn't pay it back don't worry - Obama has your back. Some of the biggest problems we face as a nation are because of this mindset. Why transcend over adversity, if you're guaranteed mediocrity?