Of setbacks and successes

By Joshua Corcuera

You can’t win at everything, but you can try. These lyrics of a well-known song came to mind when I decided to try something I was longing for.

In life, we all aspire to achieve something remarkable, something astounding. These dreams come in various forms be it passing a difficult exam, making it into your dream school, becoming who you wanted to be when you grow up, being with someone you love, or helping your family and friends in trying times. We all wanted to have a sense of achievement because, after all, we are humans, and what is living for if we do not have any ambition at all?

However, reaching these dreams is neither a straight nor a smooth path. Rather, it seems to be an onerous ordeal. The desire to achieve something is not without risks.

You may want to become the top of your class, but with it is the risk of sacrificing your health and well-being. You may want to become a lawyer or a doctor, but with it comes the risk of spending too much time, money, and effort. You may want to be in a relationship with someone whom you deeply admire for so long, but with it comes the risk of rejection. All hopes and dreams can be shattered.

Unsurprisingly, many people eventually give up after trying several times. It is a harsh reality—to lose passion in the things that, in the past, gave you the desire to wake up every morning, to no longer be interested in the things that you once prayed for would be yours.

Worse, some people find it hard to move forward and, as a consequence thereof, become numb and would no longer dream again. Some who failed exams believed they were merely a burden to their families, while others who confessed their feelings and were rejected would no longer love again and let hatred and envy take over them.

Indeed, some—or maybe even all—of the things that we passionately hoped for and worked hard for may not be destined for us.

Be that as it may, we should keep on trying, to keep moving forward despite the failures, shortcomings, and rejections that come along the way. As a Japanese proverb said, “fall seven times, stand up eight.” It is an imminent part of life to fail, to be rejected, to be humiliated. It is through these heartbreaks where one can learn and become a stronger person.

Remember that when we were a little child, we needed to fall to the ground to learn that no one would lift us but ourselves. We needed to suffer from some wounds to be aware of the things we should be careful of. It is through pain where one can learn a lesson that one would never forget, a lesson that may be useful in the future.

Dear reader, may you not be afraid to fail your exam, to be rejected by your beloved, to be laughed at by others, and so on. It is normal to be afraid, but face all your fears and conquer them all. Be brave. Be calm. Be true.