Student column: Falling short can make you stronger

Talk about it

The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary’s definition of disappointed is “to be defeated in expectation or hope.” I’d say that that’s a pretty accurate definition from personal experiences. However, I have come to realize that these disappointments are what push us to become better and make us stronger in the long run.

Getting your hopes up just to be let down is always a disappointment. When plans don’t go through, you don’t get the grade you want, or you didn’t get something you worked for are just a few examples of when you could get discouraged; discouragement usually leads to disappointment. Both are feelings no one enjoys. But how do you overcome that disappointment, and move on? Everyone has their own ways of doing that, but here are a few ways that I have found helpful:

• Look on your disappointment as a failure, and use that crappy, losing feeling as a motivator to be better the next time you are in a similar situation.

• Talk to your friends about it. They will not only help make you feel better, but they can probably tell you things that you can do better next time.

• This one is for all the girls out there: It always helps me to eat something yummy. No matter if it’s treating yourself to Chinese food, or hitting up the new Cherry Berry in Lakeville. Eating out my feelings always helps me. You should definitely try it sometime if you’re ever feeling down.

• The last thing is kind of sad, but it actually helps me. Compare your problems to ones of kids your age in another country, like a third world country for example; they don’t know when the next time they’ll have a meal, or they could even be having to support their family because they don’t have parents to take care of their siblings. Just think of those super long, depressing commercials that are played on TV late at night. Comparing your problems to theirs makes yours seem pretty silly right?

Sometimes failing is actually the best thing you could have asked for; it can give you the extra motivation to try harder, or practice more. In the moment, disappointment might just 100 percent stink, but it all depends on how you react to it. React to something disappointing with the drive to do better and gosh darn it I’m sure next time you will!

Marissa Opp is a student at Farmington High School. Her column appears every other week.

Tags: high school, opinion, farmington, commentaries