This isn’t as grim as it sounds! It’s a day to celebrate the failures that move us on to the next step of learning.
This day, marked annually on 13th October, is a new one to us here at #RISEEduMag but, actually, it can be a really positive thing for everyone, and especially when applied in a school context.
Founded by students at Aalto University in Finland in 2010, the day encourages people of all ages to view their failures as part of their journey to success. It emphasises that failure is nothing to be ashamed of but rather a state that helps us reflect, learn and grow.
What is the day about?
This day encourages people to rethink what not succeeding means in a new way, turning the idea of failure from a negative state to something much more constructive.
For students, this means that even if they do not succeed in whatever they are doing at first, they can reflect on the failed attempt and use that knowledge to move them forward the next time. If we start to consider failure as a learning step that is free from shame, the removal of that stigma can really help to boost students’ resilience as they become more willing to give things another try.
It’s an important change of mindset that is positive for personal growth – powering students forwards rather than making them feel like giving up.
How we can be inspired
The idea of failure is a tough one to destigmatise in schools because the whole exam system is constructed to rank students’ achievements, and with that comes passing and failing.
Additionally, students may fail multiple times, and, when this happens, putting a positive spin on it gets more difficult each time.
Sometimes, it’s helpful to see examples of how people in the wider world have ‘failed’ multiple times before finding a way forward. Box office flops before a blockbuster, music albums that didn’t perform as expected after a previous number one, or people who didn’t succeed the first time of trying are all good subjects to discuss. For example, did you know that even Einstein didn’t pass all of his exams (although he excelled in the bits he did pass)?
Moving forward
The main thing the International Day for Failure teaches us is that failure should not make us feel ashamed. We all just need to re-think it, so it becomes part of the learning that helps us achieve our goals – whatever they may be!
Read more on the International Day of Failure here
