Failure is
Human
Normal
Valuable
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We’ve all felt “less than” at some point—not smart enough, not talented enough. But we’ve found that learning from our failures helps us grow.
Adjusting to MIT
Whether you just joined the MIT community this year (welcome!) or you are settling into a new major, community, class, or lab, it is normal to struggle with the transition and doubt whether you belong. Many Flipping Failure storytellers speak to the challenge of transitioning to MIT.
Practice Coping Strategies
MIT students share strategies they have used to connect with peers, utilize their resources, and avoid comparing themselves to others.
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Read more: Talking to Mentors
Strategy
Talking to Mentors
View all clips: Talking to MentorsMIT students talk about the valuable conversations they had with their mentors: conversations that led to different perspectives on personal struggles and personal strengths; and clarification of goals and advice on how to achieve them.
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Read more: Social Connections
Strategy
Social Connections
View all clips: Social ConnectionsHear MIT students discuss how giving and receiving support from peers has helped them stick to their study plans, prevent overload, and keep them energized.
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Read more: Prioritizing Well-being
Strategy
Prioritizing Well-being
View all clips: Prioritizing Well-beingMIT students describe how they create space to be mentally and physically healthy while tackling difficult challenges.
Reconsidering study habits
As they adjusted to the academic rigor, many MIT students had to reevaluate how they studied and develop new learning strategies.
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Katie discusses how she asked for academic support and fine-tuned her study strategies after receiving a lower than expected grade on an exam.
Katie: Studying for Deeper Understanding
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Hear how Jeba asked for academic support and fine-tuned her study strategies when she found herself struggling with classes.
Jeba: Recognizing Gaps in Knowledge
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Jessica becomes aware that working with others on problem sets allowed her to get by without fully understanding. She adopts the new strategy of working on the problems alone first and then filling in gaps by working with others.
Jessica: How to Approach Psets
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Neki describes how setting a timer and writing nonstop for 10 minutes helps free him from unrealistically high expectations that can impede progress.
Neki: Getting Started with Writing