Failure by Cameron

Failure by Cameron - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

There is one small habit that I think has had a significant impact on my academic success. As crazy as it might sound, I have learned to accept things that might be less than perfect. For years, I strived to get 100% on every assignment, test, and be the best of the best in school. Although I know these things are important, and I still do try very hard, I learned that sometimes I need to let myself go a little bit. The burnout and stress that I endured due to being overworked was unbelievable.

My burnout never went away until I was open to letting myself fail a little bit. In my book, failure is anything short of perfect. When I was able to study for one or two less hours for a test, I might get a few points lower than if I stayed up all night, but I still end up feeling much better in the end. I have noticed that this has caused my grades to stay almost exactly the same, and I feel healthier, more energized, and more determined. Being willing to give myself a break almost fully eliminated my burnout while still being in the top of my class. For that reason, the best habit I have is to be okay with failure.