Prompt
Nobody wants to be considered a “failure.” The word suggests inability and incompetence, something that our culture frowns on. But sometimes a failure has unusual outcomes. For example, a high school student fails a history test on World War II. As a result, he has to retake the test. In doing so, he learns the importance of taking responsibility and studying ahead of time. In reviewing the material for the test, he might also be reminded of certain ideas that World War II exemplified—intolerance, passivity, and personal conscience.
Assignment:
Tell the story of a time that you faced failure in your life and learned something important from it. In your response, be sure to explain how you failed and the ways in which this failure led to an unusual outcome.
