<p>Hello,
This is my first post on collegeconfidential so I apologize in advance if this is the wrong section.
Anyways, I would really appreciate it if someone could grade my essay or even just provide feedback. I've neglected the essay portion of SAT for way too long and I haven't written one in a couple years.</p>
<p>Prompt: "The novelist John Hersey wrote, "Learning starts with failure; the first failure is the beginning of education."
What are your thoughts on the idea that failure is necessary for education to take place?</p>
<p>Essay:
Failure is a fundamental part of human nature; in fact, one could say that failure is what makes us human. However, this is not detrimental; rather, failure is pivotal to human understanding and learning.</p>
<p>From the minute we are born, we constantly make mistakes. Perhaps the first mistake I made was saying "Momo" instead of "Mama". And perhaps my first teachers were my parents, who repeated to me the correct pronunciation. Attempts to demonstrate our knowledge that end up turning awry do not detract from learning; rather, they solidify our understanding when they are corrected.</p>
<p>The midterm I took in AP World History is a textbook example (no pun intended) of failure leading to success. Though I detested the two hundred question study guide my teacher handed out, I understood its irreplacable value. I completed the study guide and my results were abominable. Nevertheless, failing the practice exam allowed me to assess my weaknesses and straighten them out in preparation for the actual exam. A week later, the results of the actual exam were released and I was overjoyed at my 95.</p>
<p>However, it is important to note that failure does not automatically lead to learning. In reality, failure is an unreliable means to an end. At the risk of sounding cliche, we are the ones responsible for ensuring we learn from our mistakes.</p>
<p>Most people think that only death and taxes are certain, but failure should be added to this list. In spite of, or maybe even because of failure, mankind can always strive to learn and progress, even if they trip or stumble along the way.</p>