“Well, I failed my first year of college. What do I do now?” asked a disappointed and frustrated student on the other end of the Zoom call. Memories came flooding back. I’ve had this conversation before, many times. First, there are four things you need to know. Then, you need to pick yourself up, learn from the experience, and move forward. Here’s how.
I Failed My First Year of College. Here are four things you need to know…
Your Failures Don’t Define You
If you only take one thing away from this blog article, I want you to remember that your failures do not define you. What you do next does. You have a choice, you always have a choice. You can pick yourself up instead of letting this setback bring you to a grinding halt. And, your future is too important to allow the latter.
College is Not the Only Path to Success
If you do any research on successful people that you admire, you’ll hear story after story of failure and setback. In fact, you can read another blog on the humble beginnings and failures of successful people if you want a few examples. The point here is college is not the only path to success. Steve Jobs did not have a college degree and look at the successful companies he built. Failures are a huge part of success stories…period.
Experience Matters More
If you or your parents are staring at your final grades thinking they will prevent you from having a successful career, think again. I wrote an entire article on this topic recently. The truth is, employers care more about your employability and experience than your grades, especially after a few years in the workforce.
You Are Not Alone
Nearly 30 percent of incoming freshmen are not as successful as they would have liked their first year of college. In fact, many leave college and come back later when they are more focused and prepared to invest the time and money in higher education. If you think you are the only person to have ever failed during the first year of college, think again. Just remember to learn from this experience and make adjustments as you move forward.
I Failed My First Year of College. What do I do next?
1. Identify your career goal.
Many students fail the first year of college because they are unfocused and don’t know how they are going to use that education. If you don’t have a clear career goal and purpose for going to school, it is much harder to be successful. Career coaching can help you identify a career path with confidence and determine the best route for the education and training you need to be successful.
2. Consider all education and training options.
After you have identified your career goal, then you can look at the education and training needed to be successful. And guess what? You may not even need a four-year college degree! Are you passionate about photography and want to own your own business? A few business courses or an apprenticeship is going to serve you better than a four-year degree anyway! Are you considering a technical career such as welding? A short-term program at a vocational school is a great option!
Alternatively, your career choice may require a college degree. If it does, that is ok! One year with less-than-ideal grades will not result in total loss. You can still continue your education on academic probation. In addition, you can retake classes that you failed and raise your grade point average. Like everything in life, college takes determination, grit, and perseverance. You can turn your story into one of overcoming setbacks and achieving success!
3. Combine your education with real experience.
If you really want to bring your education to life, combine your education or training with real experience. Getting a part-time job, internship, volunteer experience, etc. will help you remain focused and help you apply your knowledge in a practical learning environment.
Feeling Stuck? I can help.
No one is the same, and each path to success and fulfillment looks different. An individualized career coaching experience will take you from feeling stuck to clear about your goals and empowered to achieve them! Schedule your free consultation now.
My name is Loren Kelly and I know what it feels like to be stuck. Quite frankly, it sucks. You thought you had a plan and things just didn’t turn out the way you thought they would. Now, you’re at a crossroads and the options are overwhelming. What will be fulfilling long-term and how do you get there? I can help. Let me take the guessing game out of your future and move you from stuck to confident and empowered! Book your free consultation today!
