Let’s Talk about Failure

I failed math in grades 5, 8, 9, 12, and 13. I failed 8th grade for failing both math and English. We had a dual course paper for science and English where I aced the science part but failed the English part. Failure is a part of the progress I’ve made in life. Despite failures I continued to enjoy education and reaching new levels.

So when I have to live in the reality of failing my second attempt at the LCSW exam. It sucks but I move on. With a few donuts consumed in the aftermath. The first attempt I focused on the content and ignored the questions. The first attempt was missed by twelve points. The second attempt, I spent time going through the questions in four practice exams (the questions were mostly recall questions). I was nervous and anxious as the exam drew nearer. I focused much time on theories and who came up with them. Taking it during the week instead of the weekend did not yield a difference. Besides, I had been given three days of study time when two feet of snow fell on Northeast Wisconsin! Literally confined to my apartment for two and a half days. It did not look good spending so much time on the test questions. And to see that ‘fail’ come up on the screen again was disappointing, especially when I failed by four points.

I’ve looked for advice in different places since failing the second time. I know I need to take an exam prep class which was suggested after my first attempt. I have made inquiries to this end. I also know that I need to study the actual ASWB practice test that they offer rather than third party practice exams to get a feel for their questions and reasonings.

“Dig in and change strategy.” This is the advice of Gary Vaynerchuck. A popular entrepreneur online. “Learn the foundations and then branch out.” This is the advice of my uncle. You can’t be a Picasso without knowing the basics first. Learn the generalist knowledge and then you can branch out into your own personal interests and strengths. Fail forward. What you do to change the outcome next time is what defines you.

One of the positives of failing the exam was seeking out others who have failed and getting their input about what and how they finally passed the exam. Another positive is to be able to give sound advice to others who have not taken the exam yet. There are so many items out there designed to help you pass and you could waste a fortune. I am at least glad that I can help steer others away from buying into useless study materials.

The big question on my mind is why I can’t seem to be as passionate and dedicated to the LCSW exam as I am to the gym and my diet? I dedicated 125 days to reach my fitness goal. Went from 140.5 to 128.0 pounds. Broke myself down in order to build myself back up.

I really need to make passing the exam into a reward. Admittedly, in the first two attempts, I did not study like I should have. I know that I need to study in the mornings when my brain is at it’s best and study every day. To do this, I need to give myself a tangible reward for passing the exam and maybe that will help me do what I know I need to do to pass it this third time. I need to think outside the box and get to the heart of what an LCSW does for my future. My future of failures followed by successes.

My advice: Fail and keep failing so you can find out how to be successful and then you can become an expert who helps others stumble less often on the same path.