Grace G.

Photography by Alyssa Jackson

If you're reading this, it is okay to fall.

If you’re reading this, know that it’s okay to fall. As a figure skater of eighteen years, falling always felt like failure, especially in a world where perfection is expected. When I fell, I was told to “get back up as if nothing happened.” I carried this mindset into my everyday life, and it became more hindering than helpful. 

Coming to college, I began to realize how important it is to actually reflect on those moments when you fall. Behind every fall and every failure is a version of yourself that was challenged and pushed in ways you might not have noticed at the time. Reflection became a powerful tool, one I underestimated and ignored for far too long. I used to think that moving on quickly meant I was strong, but in reality, I was skipping over the very moments that could have taught me the most.

Once I allowed myself to reflect, I started to recognize growth. Failure was no longer something to avoid or hide from; it became a reminder that I was given another opportunity to learn and improve. Instead of asking myself, “Why did this happen?” I started asking, “What can I take from this?” That shift changed everything. 

Looking back at my freshman self, I can see how much I have grown not just academically, but as a friend, a daughter, and a coworker. I became more patient with myself, more understanding of others, and more willing to embrace discomfort rather than run from it. 

I am still learning to sit with my failures instead of brushing past them, but I have come to understand that falling is not the end of something, it is the beginning of something better. It is in those moments on the ground where you learn the most about how to stand back up, not just quickly, but stronger.

Grace G., University of Wisconsin

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