A,B,C,D and sometimes, F. Growing up, these were merely letters in the alphabet song, carrying no other meaning by themselves. However, the appearance of any of those letters on a piece of paper, now, with our name on it can make or break us. When we receive a grade that we deem within our standards, it is a great feeling and it creates a mental certainty in our heads that we will do just as well, if not better the next time. However, after one bad grade, that certainty is replaced with doubt that becomes difficult to shake.

When we first see that bad grade, our heart sinks and a bad taste is left in our mouths. Even if we had an inkling that we may not have done as well as we thought, the confirmation of that bad grade feels a hundred times worse. So what do we do? How can we bounce back after a bad grade?

I can’t speak for anyone else but when I first see a bad grade, I look over the test or paper a million times looking for the teacher’s error in grading. Ultimately, this is futile because there is nothing wrong with the grade. As cliché as it may sound, the one way to regroup is accepting the grade, acknowledging that despite your best or worst efforts, you did not do as well as you would’ve liked. That is not to say that you are content with the grade, but it means holding yourself accountable for it.

Another strategy is figuring out why you failed. Did you not study long enough? Are you having a difficult time with the course itself? Getting to the root of the issue prevents the repetition of the same results.

Getting help is always a great strategy. Admittedly, asking for help is not always our favorite thing to do. At times, asking for help can feel like accepting defeat, but what it is doing is helping to provide clarity where it is necessary. No one knows everything and we’re not expected to. If you find yourself stuck on something or questioning something that you may think is inconsequential, ask anyway. Holding a question only prolongs your confusion and thus, makes you more susceptible to fail again.

Perspective is a helpful strategy as well. In hindsight, one bad grade does not mean you are going to fail. In the grand scheme of things, it is not an indication of your intelligence or ability to do the work. In other words, it is not the end of the world or you.

My father has always reminded me that it is not the mistake that matters but what you do afterwards that counts. My last strategy, which is really a combination of them all: The best way to bounce back is using the failing grade as ammunition to do better next time. The good new is that there is nowhere for you to go but up. We’ve all failed at something. What will you see your failure as? Defeat or motivation?