Failure isn’t shameful. We all fail, we just don’t talk about it that much. I’ve failed loads of times in my life, and I expect to fail again soon. Maybe tomorrow! Maybe next week. The important part is to learn along the way.
When I was your age I wasn’t a perfect student. Actually, I’ve never been a perfect student. I attended extra tutoring for math and chemistry classes throughout most of my time in school, and for a long time I thought that meant I couldn’t be a scientist. But I want to let you in on a secret. Being a scientist isn’t always about being a perfect student, or being the best at geometry or physics. Being a scientist is about understanding how to ask questions in a way that we can learn from the answers. It is about pursuing knowledge that the world needs, and solving problems, and passing that knowledge on to others. If you take anything away from our journey together, I hope it is the fact that the world needs more curious, kind, and adventurous scientists, and that scientist could be you!
No matter what you decide to do, focus on what you love to learn, stay patient with the things you don’t love to learn, and remember that everyone has to start somewhere. If you need help in school, ask your teacher! That may sound obvious, but I wish that I had begun asking for help sooner, and I have had so many amazing teachers who helped me to learn throughout my life.
I hope that our exchange has taught you more about manta rays, or the ocean, or even that you just had fun. I hope that next time you see a fish, you remember that fish sees you, too, so share in the glorious mutual seeing. I hope that you always give yourself the courage to pursue your dreams. I hope that you ask for help when you need it.
