All By Myself

That’s how I got into University of Wisconsin.

Check out that hair though!

I skated through high school. Passed some AP tests and scored well enough on the ACT to get into UW.

Freshman year I went to class and got A’s and B’s. Sophomore year I went to fewer classes, and by second semester I was failing.  Ashamed, I hid my struggle from everyone. Never talked to a professor or TA. Didn’t use tutoring. Didn’t talk to parents, roommates, friends. I knew I could do it. Next year, I went on academic probation and got kicked out of school.

I failed.  All by myself. That’s how I failed out of University of Wisconsin.

After a year, I went back and finished my degree. I asked Professors and TAs for help, and got the best grades of my college career. I’m uncomfortable asking for help, and I do it because I achieve more. I do it because people appreciate the opportunity to help.

Why am I sharing this with you now?

Hopefully there’s nothing as drastic as you failing out of school (and ok if there is). You may have that nagging sense you’re capable of more. Capable of having greater impact for your organization, your family, yourself? You’ve got partially formed ideas, but aren’t sure how you want to get started.