Dear Fear of Failure,

Rare, misunderstood disabilities frequently leave people feeling hopeless about their future. This can cause you to live your life in the exact thing that you are afraid of, which is failure. This is exactly what I have been doing for the vast majority of my life this far.

I spent much of my life mourning the life I felt I “should have had” when I should have spent my energy on creating the life I had been dreaming about in my head, turning my dream into a reality. This caused me to face failure head on. I wasn’t happy at my job. I was unhappy with my relationships. Everything I did felt like it was never quite enough. Until this year, when I decided I would choose not to be frozen in fear of failure and causing myself to fail in the end all along.

This year, I overcame my fear of failure and kindled a passion I’d always held back. I decided I didn’t want to feel sorry for myself anymore. I didn’t want to live in failure and I didn’t want to let you win.

After some trials and tribulations, I faced my fear of operating the cash register. I finally signed up to go to college. I am working towards my long-time dream of becoming a teacher, and I am sharing my story in this writing contest.

For the first time in a long time, I don’t fear failure. I may not win this contest and I may not do as well as I thought I would in school, but I can say that I tried. I may very well fail, but I can try again and if I still fail, I can at the very least say I made the attempt, which I have learned that being able to say I attempted something is more than enough for me. Failure can sometimes lead you toward your greatest achievement. I try to affirm this to myself daily.

So if you are reading this today, stuck in the claws of the fear of failure, remember that failing means you tried. As long as you try, you will always succeed. 

Love,

Jennifer

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