Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - I soo feel like a failure right now for failing Med Exam

James81 · 06-22-2011, 05:49 AM

Heh, I almost didn't notice how old this thread was. Then I saw your update and realized that my original reply still fits. A quote that really inspires me:

Fall a 100 times, rise 101 times.

Now let me give you some facts about me:

Midway through my undergrad degree, I flunked so many classes that I went on academic probation. I finally pulled it together (I took some classes in that program up to three times) and graduated with a BS degree in Engineering. (2.3 GPA thanks to my couple of "bad" semesters.)

Engineering is such that you have to take two tests beyond your degree to get licensed as a professional engineer.

I took the first test, (called the "FE" or Fundamentals of Engineering Exam) 3 times before I passed it.

This past fall, I took the second test (called the "PE" or the Professional Engineers Exam...the one that grants the license) for the second time and failed it. (Failed this one twice as well.) I plan to retake that test next year in October.

I applied to a Master's of Arts in Teaching program this past winter and I had to interview three different times for it (because of my low GPA from my undergrad) and, after hearing the doubts of the people who interviewed me, they gave me a shot and I got in.

Part of THIS program requires you to take the Praxis exam in the content area you plan to teach in (mine is math). I took that test back in March...and failed...failed it pretty hard actually. Took it again in April and passed.

I bring up all of that as a shining example that tenacity and resilience will get you want you want. How many people would've given up after all of that? My academic career is littered with failure (at least in my college years...high school was very different), but I've consistently gotten where I needed to be because I hung in there and when I'd fail it would suck, but I'd get back on the horse and try it again. In fact, I was already registered for the Praxis for a third time before I even got my scores, because I know that if you stick with it, you'll eventually get it.

Tests aren't a measure of your intelligence. I completely suck at standardized tests, but I know that I'll make a fantastic teacher and that I am pretty deng smart.

06-22-2011, 05:49 AM	#18 (permalink)
James81 Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 12,690	Heh, I almost didn't notice how old this thread was. Then I saw your update and realized that my original reply still fits. A quote that really inspires me: Fall a 100 times, rise 101 times. Now let me give you some facts about me: Midway through my undergrad degree, I flunked so many classes that I went on academic probation. I finally pulled it together (I took some classes in that program up to three times) and graduated with a BS degree in Engineering. (2.3 GPA thanks to my couple of "bad" semesters.) Engineering is such that you have to take two tests beyond your degree to get licensed as a professional engineer. I took the first test, (called the "FE" or Fundamentals of Engineering Exam) 3 times before I passed it. This past fall, I took the second test (called the "PE" or the Professional Engineers Exam...the one that grants the license) for the second time and failed it. (Failed this one twice as well.) I plan to retake that test next year in October. I applied to a Master's of Arts in Teaching program this past winter and I had to interview three different times for it (because of my low GPA from my undergrad) and, after hearing the doubts of the people who interviewed me, they gave me a shot and I got in. Part of THIS program requires you to take the Praxis exam in the content area you plan to teach in (mine is math). I took that test back in March...and failed...failed it pretty hard actually. Took it again in April and passed. I bring up all of that as a shining example that tenacity and resilience will get you want you want. How many people would've given up after all of that? My academic career is littered with failure (at least in my college years...high school was very different), but I've consistently gotten where I needed to be because I hung in there and when I'd fail it would suck, but I'd get back on the horse and try it again. In fact, I was already registered for the Praxis for a third time before I even got my scores, because I know that if you stick with it, you'll eventually get it. Tests aren't a measure of your intelligence. I completely suck at standardized tests, but I know that I'll make a fantastic teacher and that I am pretty deng smart.