When I graduated from college in 2009, I had a dream. I was going to live in Chicago, get a job at an Architectural firm, and work toward my license. Then after 3 years (license acquired), I was going to move to Italy, Rome perhaps. Probably rent a nice little villa or apartment. Here’s what actually happened: the economy tanked, I couldn’t find an architectural position, and I moved to Florida. In terms of achieving “my dream” I failed, BIG TIME! I received this article in my inbox titled 9 Reasons Why Failure is Not Fatal and the 9th example was a commencement speech given J.K Rowling (author of the Harry Potter series). Here’s an excerpt:
“…failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena where I believed I truly belonged. I was set free…”
Had I successfully made it to Rome with an architectural license in tow, here’s what I might never have done, at least not in the near future. I might not have made the decision to switch to graphic design. It just wouldn’t seem practical, after all that work towards becoming an architect. Granted, some people still think I’m crazy, I did complete 5 years in my college’s architectural program, but this switch isn’t so strange. I’ve ALWAYS loved art. It was the class I lived for in high school. I excelled in my other classes because: 1. I don’t like to fail (oh the irony) 2. Great grades = great college + scholarships 3. If you don’t like the class, why blow it off only to have to repeat it; the list goes on…
So why become an architect, since I love art so much? Don’t get me wrong, I do love architecture as well and again it seemed practical. The impression I was given growing up was that to be an artist, you had to be struggling or starving (very cliché). Little did I know of graphic design. I do know though that if I had continued with architecture that I would have tried to put myself in the positions where I could work on the graphics (building renderings/illustrations) and interactive installations.
If I had a chance to do it all over again, would I do it differently? Probably not. I’m not saying life’s been a bed of roses since I made the switch. There’s a lot I need to teach myself and I’m still looking for more stable employment (anyone know of a paid graphic design internship please let me know or if you need some work done, let’s talk ). However, success extends beyond what you do. The relationships I’ve made at college are priceless. Some friends are more like family and my future children already have weekends booked at their future homes. I wouldn’t have met them if I had gone somewhere else and that would’ve been tragic. Also the people I’ve meet since moving to Florida have made a huge impact on my life and I’ve grown so much closer to my actual family here. You just can’t make the same connection in Italy through Skype.
So this is failure. I’m dealing with it, learning from it, and hopefully becoming a better person because of it.
Please check out 9 Reasons Why Failure is Not Fatal and here is J.K Rowling’s full speech.
ptagirlunscripted
/ August 16, 2011To me, failure is only an option when you let it become part of your vocabulary…
Rimmy Barakoti
/ August 16, 2011Sometimes failure is inexorable. Wotever u did was gud.
leadinglight
/ August 16, 2011I tried doing teaching after my Bachelor’s because they say those who can’t do, teach but I really disliked the classroom aspect of it. I’m OK with one-on-one tutoring though. So I went and did a Master’s in Publishing and Communications and managed to get a writing job. It’s not working with books like I wanted but all I have to do all day is write to the corporate briefing.
eddy2525
/ August 16, 2011Of course failure isn’t fatal for failure is nothing more than the simple act of stopping or
– eddy
giving up. At any point we can resume once again (should we choose to) and once
that’s done then ‘failure’ becomes nothing more then a temporary layover…
inidna
/ August 16, 2011I’m glad that I decided to look through the Freshly Pressed blogs and clicked on yours. This is very inspiring! I’m just about to embark on my ‘second half’ of the college experience (aka Master Degree) and I have no idea what comes next and I know I’m not alone when I say the idea of ‘failure’ scares the living crap out of me. But I’ve sort of been there before, I’ve waded in that big sea but then I read this post and it made the feeling lessen a little more because it just goes to show that even if you fail on what you set out to do from the beginning, you can also be succeeding on a different path that you never thought to look at. So thanks for sharing this post! Hope you find that stable graphic design job that you’re looking for
ericbierker
/ August 16, 2011Your post definitely suggests to me that despite the unexpected twist and turns, you are on the right track. Not sure how it is ultimately going to manifest itself yet you are too smart not to achieve. Keep your hand to the plow and don’t look back with any regret.
bkcsingaporemath
/ August 16, 2011Thanks for sharing your experience. Your may not be an architect but can be a graphic designer. It is still what you are looking for. A stable job is hardly come by in today situation. You can lost your job not because you do not have the skills because there are cheaper source of work force to take your job. Many of the skillful and experience engineering work forces in our end had turn themself to become cab drivers and security guards to meet their end needs.
hanamarie51
/ August 16, 2011Phoenix rises out of the ashes!
veehcirra
/ August 16, 2011thanks for your encouraging words, am at crossroads afraid of making any step, afraid of failure which is only human, but now I am making the first step…scary but has to be done…thanks again
Missjlouise
/ August 16, 2011“However, success extends beyond what you do.”
Amazing!!! I love this post just what I needed today
Habib-Ur-Rehman
/ August 16, 2011it is a big Failure.
Online Games - new online games
/ August 16, 2011Continue to follow your passion and everything else will fall into place. Blessings!!
Just Speech
/ August 16, 2011Failure is measured by your own standards and happiness. What you think you may want may not actually be the right thing for you. you will be most happy doing what you love to do and you will do your best work in the things you have a passion for. I have switched and consider many different majors but I finally decided to stick with one that I would have never thought of but Im good at and thats computers and mathematics. Good luck on your new path.
tudobeleza11
/ August 16, 2011I love your blog. It quintessentially depicts what life is all about…learning to expect the unexpected, be resilient to what ever path you go down, and to reflect back and see how the puzzle fits perfectly. I myself am in a position where I think gosh if I don’t make use of my four year degree, it would be a waste. Maybe, maybe not. Only time will tell. Thank you for your inspirational story.
Elana
/ August 16, 2011Come on, baby! You’re the best one. In the word, there is not another you. you’re the unique one!
bookjunkie
/ August 16, 2011this is the best freshly pressed article I have read in a long time!!! thanks for the uplifting but realistic post
I am very familiar with failure myself and appreciate the boost. Especially enjoyed the JK Rowling video.
Patricia DeWit
/ August 16, 2011So this is failure. Great perspective. You’ve learned the life is about the journey, that Plan B is really the new Plan A. loved JK’s speech when I first heard it. Thanks for this great post. Congrats on the FP!
Sarah
/ August 16, 2011God bless you for sharing. Just what I needed today.
Pete Howorth
/ August 16, 2011Awesome post, glad it was featured so I could read it
Alan King
/ August 16, 2011I majored in Computer Science when I started at the University of Maryland-College Park, and ended up with a degree in Communications (Print Journalism) from Howard University. The journey was long one that taught me a lot about myself. I’m glad you learned from yours. Thanks for sharing your story!
gigi
/ August 16, 2011Success is just past splat.
analyfe
/ August 16, 2011This was really inspirational. I just graduated with a BS in Psychology and am struggling to find any job, let alone one related to my field, and it doesn’t help that I’m questioning if I ever want to work in psych ultimately. As much as it feels like a curse at the time, often the trying times force us to step back and really think about life and ourselves. Being unemployed has given me the opportunity to pursue other things, writing for example.
I really admire you for following your dreams and wish you the best of luck! Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to find a job in architecture or something that combines it with graphic design. Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
theamberlight
/ August 16, 2011I have been studying emotional energy and vocabulary for over 15 years now. Here is something that is actually a fact.
The IS no such thing as FAILURE.
No matter what, as long as we exist, we are succeeding at beomcing something new everyday. Just b/c the something new does not natch what our Human mind THOUGHT should happen does not in anyway detract from the ways we have ended up succeeding.
We consume and eliminate information every single moment of every day. We act and react based upon that information and BECOME something different (even if it is very slight) each day.
We succeed in being The Best Human Being we can be in every moment that we are in this form.
Once we learn how to open our minds and stop limiting the “idea’ of what success actually means, we will all be happier, more satified and able to teach others to embrace and accept this life as The Best Ever.
No matter what you station in life is, everyone can find something to call success, even if it is nothing more that waking up in the morning or having a dry place to sleep at night.
Great post!!!!! Congrats on Freshly Pressed and I hope my thoughts are in some way helpful in shifting your perception. Once you do this, you become more confident and then more successful, b/c you realize you are ALWAYS succeeding, so nothing you do is really “WRONG”. I twill take you to The Best sestination, whether you think it can or not!
The Best to Everyone who reads this!!! AmberLena
theamberlight
/ August 16, 2011PS It seems spell check might have been in order!!! LOL
Janet
/ August 16, 2011My father was an architect and when he retired he began his first love painting and sculpting. He created over 150 art pieces before he passed – and he always said he should have began the art sooner – it was relaxing and fulfilling for him. Continue to follow your passion and everything else will fall into place. Blessings!!
serenityplumb
/ August 15, 2011Most positive change comes out of some sort of negative situation. Good for you! I’m glad to see that although life did not happen the way you expected, it happened in a way that made you happy and fulfilled.
Anonymous
/ August 15, 2011Funny…before I read the whole blog, I thought “she should do graphic design/dev”. Nice graphics! Best of luck to you.
Nick Kellingley
/ August 15, 2011Cool post – I agree with a lot of what you say. I’ve been lucky before and had careers, but I’ve been stupid gotten bored and done something else. I’m working my way back up the pile in China at the moment and it’s all about focusing on what needs to be done and letting go of the “what if…” stuff. Good luck in your future, I’m sure you’ll be fine. Cheers, Nick
preparingtofly
/ August 15, 2011Thank you for sharing your experiences.
We should always look at every situation in a different perspective. =）
meganmadill
/ August 15, 2011Very well said. The world is too focused these days on ‘winning’ (thanks, Charlie Sheen) and ‘success’ – to the extent that kids are being told at soccer games that ‘nobody’s keeping score’. I think this is one of the biggest mistakes our society could be making, because these kids will never see what you so eloquently said in this blog post: failure is a necessary step to becoming who you are. It’s nice to have a plan, an idea of what you want out of life; but when you hit the point where anything other than that plan seems unacceptable, you’ve gone too far. Very well said, and a deserving Freshly Pressed post.
baligins
/ August 15, 2011Thank you so much for writing and sharing such a great post! I’m halfway through my college career and everyday I feel more nervous that things won’t fall into place exactly as I have planned. I now see that sometimes things fall into place even when they’re not part of your plan! Awesome post!
TheBrokeVegan
/ August 15, 2011Thank you so much for sharing your experience. This is a great post and very inspiring to those taking a leap of faith and terrified about where they may land. This article really speaks to me and it’s nice to be reassured that everything happens for a reason and you’re not the only one going through it. I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future!
Knitting Nedjmi
/ August 15, 2011If only I had arrived at this insight at your age instead of mine! Could have saved myself a lot of headaches LOL! Love what you have to say
anonymous
/ August 15, 2011very interesting
stressingoutstudent
/ August 15, 2011I’m really glad I read this today. With the beginning of college coming up, I’m excited, but very worried. What if I can’t handle the workload? What if I overstress myself? What if all my work will amount to nothing? But your article has kind of helped me put it all in a better light and I thank you for it.
amy520000
/ August 15, 2011Sorry dude but you are about as wrong as wrong can be. You are right about one thing; these successful people are not any smarter than any of the rest of us. But they do have qualities that most of us don’t have. The main difference between successful people and failures is that they have drive and determination, which they unrelentingly channel, toward specific and definite goals. They also don’t believe in luck and they know that they make their own breaks in life. On the other hand those people who think the deck is stacked against them and that life is just one big conspiracy meant to keep them down will never be successful. Its very easy to spot these people because they are always begrudging others their success.by the way we sell windows 7 key ,office 2010 key ,windows xp key ,office 2007 key ,welcome to http://www.windows-key-store.com/
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lollipopsvscigarettes
/ August 15, 2011I can relate to this. I made a lot of “switches” in my life, but when I made one final “switch” which I never expected to happen, I changed. I am happy now. I guess its not about just stealing your dreams and getting them it is more of exploring the journey while you’re about to get it.
confessionsfromthemat
/ August 15, 2011I had to learn the hard way that failure is a good thing, and is probably the best thing in terms of personal growth. Kudos to you for facing fear in the face and finding your true calling.
Jennifer Lockett
/ August 15, 2011Thank you for sharing such a touching and intimate part of yourself. In this economy, many of us are learning how to cope with “failure” (often for the first time) with ourselves or those we care about.
ecodolphin
/ August 15, 2011This is a great post, but I’ll warn you right now, tho you will never fail life will continue to throw you curveballs. With that in mind, don’t get to settled in to any path, for it could change in an instint. Oh yea, you already know that!
Steph Mignon
/ August 15, 2011I don’t care what Will T. says, I deeply appreciated the Rowling quote. As a writer, it rang especially true for me.
So often, I kick myself for amassing a large frightening amount of grad school debt. If only I’d have followed my passion to write sooner! Was law school and psych school and personal trainer school REALLY necessary?! I could say no, but everything then lead me to now… and now I’m a happy newlywed writing more than ever! Thanks for sharing you story of failure!
twicecreations
/ August 15, 2011Very inspiring… thanks. I think failure is relative to what others convinced us that we were supposed to become. And striving to meet other people’s expectations takes so much effort…
Fl'âme
/ August 15, 2011Wow, thanks, that fits perfectly to our post on the Global Society Blog
http://globalsocietyblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/education/
… for endeavoring a global society in peace,
Fl’âme =)
atbilal
/ August 15, 2011you try 5 times you win five times doesn’t make real influence.You tried 10 times and succeeded once will surely tells you the real meaning about what you are seeking in this world:-)
needsomechangepls
/ August 15, 2011Actually I dont feel so bad anymore..And thanks to you.
The past few days i was into crisis, the last few years i just felt hopeless in succeeding somewhere.
Im still fucked up but atleast I can be happy you got out of that shit and now youre accepting your failure. I bet if people werent so shallow, we wouldnt be so afraid to experience failing afteral.
slobeachboy
/ August 15, 2011You may have failed but you are not “failing” unless you still want to do what you were originally planning to do. Also failing itself is neither a good nor bad thing but fear of failure is the worst of things because it keeps us from trying. And to my reckoning the only true failure in life is not trying. Most truly successful people in this world have had failures along the way but they never dwelled on their failures they simply changed their game plans and kept on trying until they succeeded. Always keep the focus on the goals not on the failures.
andshelaughs
/ August 15, 2011Thank you for sharing this post. I always dreamed of being an architecht, but have been a reporter and a mortician. Life is full of surprises, and my wish for you is that all of your dreams come true – especially those you don’t even know of yet!
Will
/ August 15, 2011So many false-consciousness Platitudes in these comments about the success/failure dichotomy in life!
Rowling is “smart” “wonderful”, “talented” etc. etc. The rich are either just plain lucky, or they inherit their wealth. They’re no smarter than you or me!
I can’t stand it! I’m outta here!
slobeachboy
/ August 15, 2011Sorry dude but you are about as wrong as wrong can be. You are right about one thing; these successful people are not any smarter than any of the rest of us. But they do have qualities that most of us don’t have. The main difference between successful people and failures is that they have drive and determination, which they unrelentingly channel, toward specific and definite goals. They also don’t believe in luck and they know that they make their own breaks in life. On the other hand those people who think the deck is stacked against them and that life is just one big conspiracy meant to keep them down will never be successful. Its very easy to spot these people because they are always begrudging others their success.
Will
/ August 15, 2011Dear slobeachboy,
I think you’re deluded. How goal-oriented and focused on success do you think the hundreds of Wall St. bankers who nearly brought America to its knees were?
Or do you define “success” as ripping off everybody to the max? Then I guess you’d call Bernie Madoff a ‘success”?
There’s a moral dimension to success, if you have an soul or heart at all.
By your very spare reckoning people like ,Madoff , Gates, and Bush Jr. – each of them nothing but sneaking little sociopaths with no conscience – are great successful people whose wealh is deserving to them.
Think again.
shiftersseries
/ August 15, 2011You miss the point. This post is not about becoming wealthy; it’s about finding your calling. Calling does not equal wealth, but it can equal a kind of satisfaction that having all of the money in the world can’t buy. Platitude or not, that’s the truth.
longoria100
/ August 15, 2011lol…cool site
successisthebestrevenge
/ August 15, 2011This is why we have so many retired persons finally fulfilling their dreams. This is why we have so many nontraditional students returning to school to follow their dreams. This is why we have successful professionals come to a fork in the road; and take the road of their true career passion. This is why so many people change majors prior to graduation. Oh, let’s not forget the lifers in school who are still trying to find their calling.
Vee Ladwa
/ August 15, 2011Failure and rejection are nessesary as the ground is to our feet. Art, Architecture and graphic design go hand in hand and I’m glad you kept at it and didn’t jump ship. All the best!
Go Send or Disobey
/ August 15, 2011J.K. was only rejected 13 times? Posh! She’s still a beginner. Depending on which version you listen to (and your definition of failure), Thomas Edison failed between 100 and 10,000 times while perfecting the light bulb! The point is the failure is relative. One man’s (or woman’s) failure can be interpreted so many ways and can usually be turned around into a success! That’s what I wish for you, the best of success!