Ms. Dickinson
AP English III 7/8
September 11, 2014
The Awesome Assignment That Proved to be Cancerous
Due to the Unfathomable Amount of Confusion and Dumb Questions
Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? A time I experienced failure was during a family trip to Conchas Lake, and I attempted to knee board. I had just watched my brother do it effortlessly after two attempts and now I wanted to try. I got into the water and the boat began pulling me. I dragged myself onto the board but could not manage to place my knees in the allotted slots and was flung into the water. I wasn’t too upset, as hardly anybody gets it on their first try. I tried again and was flung into the water a second time. I mentally brushed myself off and got ready to attempt it again. I tried four more times, each time getting flung into the water, when finally it was time to go back and I had to get out of the water. I got onto the boat and before I knew it, was crying. Why could Patrick get it and I could not? When I think back to times I experienced failure to recount on this essay, they all have a common theme. Each time, I was upset because Patrick could do it and I could not. Patrick water-skied, and I could not. Patrick kayaked, and I could not. Patrick caught a fish, and I could not. It upset me greatly that I could not do any of the things that my brother could not, and not until recently did I finally learn that he and I are two different people. He may excel in physical activities, but I excel in creative and academic activities, and that is okay. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? A time I recall challenging a belief was last year, in my Study Skills class with Mr. Waterbury. I had not been standing for the Pledge of Allegiance for perhaps a month before, when one day, Mr. Waterbury asks me why I was