<p>Grim tidings, it's been kind of a rough week for me. I got an absolutely egregious test grade in AP Calc (which is probably 70% my fault, 30% my substitute teacher's because he sucks) and a part-time job still eludes me...</p>
<p>I came home from school today and watched an Eyewitness video on cats. I felt as though I learned a lot (did you know Martin Sheen narrated those videos?), but I forgot that cats remind me of my forlorn existence ever since my cat, Preston, died of a terrible accident due to old age.</p>
<p>I needed a pick-me-up, so I proceeded to eat some mini-wheats. They were delicious, but the frosting did so much as touch the milk in the bowl and melted away, a punishment for all my sins. I looked at the box and attempted in vain to solve some of those easy puzzles they put on the back for toddlers to figure out. Then, I noticed that the mini-wheats were an off-brand...and I was reminded of the mediocrity by which I am defined. Those off-brand mini-wheats and I have something in common. We're both forever destined to be nothing more than second best...</p>
<p>I tried taking a shower to wash away the pain. I started singing an Elton John song. I had forgotten the words, just like all of mankind will one day forget I ever existed. When I got out of the shower, I put on some new clothes. They were size extra-medium, nothing special--just like me...</p>
<p>Anyway: What do you guys do to pick yourselves up after failure? I mean, I know you're all smarties on this site but surely you've experienced some form of failure/rejection in your life. How does one "get back on that horse"? Better yet, give an example!</p>
<p>Not really, but why isn’t that a valid answer? Oh and by the way, when I do poorly on a test, I tell my parents. I only tell my parents when I get a bad test grade. I don’t usually mention the As, I don’t know why. Telling people just makes me feel better for some reason, but not because they try to convince me it wasn’t as bad. I guess because when I tell people, it helps me accept it and move on.</p>
<p>Usually I just throw myself back into work and get so busy that I can’t dwell on it If I failed a test I’ll go on a study marathon, or take up every extra assignment I can. If there’s extra credit for the class, great, but if not there’s always something more I can do for an extracurricular.</p>
<p>I go on a long run or shoot lacrosse balls in the backyard. Helps to clear my head and take out some rage or disappointment. =) It’s better than wallowing in self-pity in my room stalking people on Facebook/Twitter and eating Poptarts haha</p>
<p>Talking to close friends also helps. They give solid advice most of the time.</p>
<p>Me? I fing something that outweighs the failure. Examples: Get an F, get 2 As. Fail to conquer your weakness, show your strength. Not hard. Consider how much is the failure and think about how much greater is the success.</p>
<p>I usually either get stoned or hammered, depending on my mood.</p>
<p>But seriously, find something to occupy your time so you won’t be thinking about it. When I play tennis after school I have to focus on playing well, otherwise I’ll suck. I can’t afford to think about my school day or how much homework I have to do, cause if I did I’d get wiped off the court. Find something that requires your attention. Eating mini-wheats and taking showers don’t stop you from thinking about your day, so they don’t really help too much.</p>
<p>I do spend time feeling sorry for myself. Why? Because it really makes me feel better. After a little bit of that, I use that self-pity to think, how can I keep myself in the future from feeling this bad? That makes me analyze my actions and learn from the mistakes I made as to what I could really do better the next time. Plus, junk food helps. I don’t care what health-nuts say. Oh, and after eating a bowl of ice cream, I take my dog for a walk normally (to make myself think I just burned those calories).</p>
<p>The way I cope with my failures is by firstly letting them be known before actually doing anything (“Only a man who is truly ready to move on with his life reveals his greatest weaknesses willingly”). Bottling them up for only you to mope over accomplishes little, and speaking with others lessens the blow. After that, I personally always evaluate every intrinsic detail that led me to that failure. Find them, conquer them. It’s always important to know the failures happen, and clinging to the past doesn’t improve your present. But, it’s always possible to ameliorate the situation and make better from your failures. If I’m still just feeling down as a rock, I’ll probably listen to full albums in seclusion (to calm myself). Preferably “In Rainbows” by Radiohead or “Exquisite Corpse” by Daedelus.</p>
<p>Edit: Slightly off-topic, but Wiscongene, no matter what you post, I’m always drawn in by your writing style. I applaude you for that.</p>
<p>It’s just these integrals we’ve been doing in AP Calc. I feel like an idiot because I KNOW how to do them but I got stressed out during the test (we had like 30 minutes for 20 problems) and I just know I did poorly (didn’t get grade yet but checked several answers and know I got them wrong).</p>
<p>Good advice from everyone. I wish I was in a winter sport so I’d have something else to focus on.</p>
<p>Wiscongene, maybe the rest of the class felt the same way, and your teacher will curve the test. Don’t count your failures before you actually fail!</p>
<p>Go to the gym if you don’t play sports. It will get your mind off your studies.</p>
<p>Listen to music, play with a pet if you have one, eat some good food. </p>
<p>Best thing you can do- talk to someone. I always vent to my mom, and she usually has good suggestions. But just venting makes you feel so much better. Talk to a parent or friend about the stress you feel.</p>
<p>Find a girl you like and take her on a date or go out to a party on the weekend just to dance and have fun. Even just going to the movies or mall.</p>
<p>so much of your life seems tied up in doing the best in school. I don’t know why. doing the best or second best or third best obviously isn’t going to impact the opportunities you have in your life.</p>
<p>do you have any pets? you need a cat or dog in my opinion.</p>