It’s okay (and helpful) to talk about failure

Failure and setbacks impact us all. Resilience is what happens when we keep going in spite of these challenges.
November 18, 2021

By: Jeffrey Low

Losing track of coursework and readings. Not performing well on midterms, assignments and tests. Managing conflicting school and work commitments – and what about self-care? We all face these types of situations. And it’s okay to talk about them. In fact, discussing our problems can help us become more equipped and confident to take on whatever happens in the future.

Let’s start the conversation

Take the Student Success Quiz to check in with yourself

How are you feeling? What areas of your life as a student do you want to improve or address? Take the Student Success Quiz to get started. Then, you’ll receive tips and resources based on your results. Keep reading on this page for ways to build more resilience in your daily life.

Take the quiz

Check out the Bounce podcast for resilience stories

If resilience is an important topic to you, we recommend checking out the Okanagan Committee’s Bounce podcast for diverse, real stories told by McMaster faculty and alumni about their experiences as students, with a vision to build campus-wide resilience. You’re not alone.

Learn about Bounce

It’s not too late to improve

Dealing with academic setbacks

Developing your academic skills can help you get back on track. Plus, it can help you think ahead so you can take on that test, essay or group project with more confidence. Keep reading to discover skill-specific resources and tips to help you succeed.

Academic Skills Animated Series

Note-taking (video)

Tip sheets (LibGuides)

Dealing with career pressures and managing work

When it comes to your career and professional life, know that you don’t have to have everything figured out. It’s okay to change your mind, no matter where you are in your career journey. The fact is, being open to new and unexpected opportunities is an important part of the career planning process. This is a crucial component in the Planned Happenstance theory, as developed by John Krumboltz, Al Levin and Kathleen Mitchell.

Try the Career Planning Notebook to keep track of your options, progress and any changes that you might make in your developing career plan.

Career Planning Notebook (PDF)