Holliberry,
There are dpfferent kinds of mistakes. For instance, you can take a wrong road and follow it until totally lost.
But I would say that the failure is when you know the right way and can take it but still take a wrong one. Wjile a mistake is when you either do not know or unable to do something right.
Yes, consequences of mistakes can be bad (for example, those of doctor's mistakes), but, unfortunatelly, they are a part of life.
Take care,
Linda

I just failed two classes, after getting an invitation to an honor's society. Now I have gotten my first academic warning. That hurt, even though I had already accepted that I failed---which was hard to do.

I don't consider it a "success"---the F is for "failure"---but there's something comforting about knowing that I'm still standing. Not in good academic standing, but it didn't kill me. I'll just have to take the classes over and make better grades. I'm grateful that the program I'm in is forgiving me (this time) and the school takes the highest grade after I retake the classes.

Failing two classes made me take my PTSD relapse more seriously. Taking care of myself and balancing my life well enough to get good grades in those two classes is at least a concrete goal for pulling myself together. Only taking two classes, so I have time to go to the gym and counseling, and to study more than I would normally have to to get things.

Failure can be motivating, especially if you're stubborn, like I am.

hey tina, i was in a similar situation a couple years ago in my second semester of college. it was right before i learned that i had ptsd. my grades started slipping because i was having anxiety attacks during my midterms and i would withdraw and skip classes altogether. so i had to drop my classes. now after about two years i will be going back in january. im starting slow, probably one, maybe two music courses. my school was like yours in that they are forgiving and take the higher grade, so i dont think i really hurt myself academically. im pretty excited to be going back. apart from the panic attacks college was a very positive experience. im glad to hear that you are sticking it out despite the hardship. i think those kind of experiences are necessary to learn and grow as a human being. i wish you great luck and hope this time around goes better for you.

take care,
nate

Luck to you, Nate. My first college plan (way back in the eighties) was fine arts. Painting was great therapy. I loved it. Now I'm going for a horticulture degree and I love that too. It's hard to be confident, but I'm psyched about my degree. Scatterbrained but psyched.

Hope it goes well for you too. How are you dealing with the anxiety attacks? (If you don't mind my asking?)

the anxiety attacks seem to be getting much better. the last couple months ive been really working in therapy and am making much progress, however i have no idea how i will handle being back in school until im actually there. you know, i didnt even think about a fine arts degree. my guidance counselor recommended an AA which sounds terrible to me. so ill have to check into that.
i went up yesterday to sign up for classes and was very discouraged. i went into the office for students with disabilities and all the counselors were sitting at a table together talking and laughing. when i went in i was already nervous and when i started telling my counselor (in front of the other two counselors, who were staring at me) that i just wanted to take a few music courses, they started laughing at me. i thought i was just being paranoid but when i said i wanted a career teaching drums privately and didnt want to have to go through a two year program for an AA, they starting really laughing at me. so of course i just clammed up and walked out feeling idiotic and mortified. then i started getting angry, which lasted for an hour or two. after i calmed down i decided that it wasnt my fault that they are a**holes, and that if i cant go in through the front door then ill just have to find a side door. so thats where im at right now. hopefully ill find someone competent before the new semester starts and i can start my journey. thanks for mentioning the fine arts degree and for the warm wishes. hope you have a peaceful and stress free holiday.

nate

That's not pleasant, at all. I would have calmly, but firmly asked them what they were laughing about, and why it was interfering with their duties. If they were hitting the hookah, they wouldn't say so, but at least they would know they had a Blue Heeler (not gonna stand around barking, but I'll bite your a**) in the room and had better sober up.

That's just my style though.

I've had very good experiences with a disability office at the Community College I went to before transferring to this University. I made the error of not doing the disability paperwork for this school, last term. Need a quiet room for study and tests, extra test time (I erase more than I write), and grace with extra absences when I have sleep problems or am too emotional for anyone's good.

At first, I felt like a beggar, taking the paperwork to the instructors, but they were very gracious, and I didn't always require the special accommodations.

I don't know what kind of program you're in, but it sounds like you need an advocate who takes you seriously.