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Justin Lee
June 5, 2014
AP Lang
Evans, 5
My Worst Failure
Flashback to 2005, the third grade. Nintendos recent release of Pokmon Emerald had
enveloped every child in the United States. In my elementary school, the hallways were filled
with students trying their hardest to level up their Pokmon and conquer their friends for
bragging rights. In the initial months after its release, it was impossible not to see a Gameboy out
in the hall. The playgrounds had their usage halved as kids stayed in the shade to see their
screens.
I stood in the middle of it all, training as hard as everyone else to get the best Pokmon
team fielded. For the elementary school loner that I was, Pokmon came to define me. Without
many friends, it was my strength with the game that helped me gain popularity with others. By
the time it was May, I was confident that my Pokmon team was the best around school.
My elementary school bus hosted some of the most epic competition known to man. Many
of the strongest trainers I knew were on my bus, making for fierce rivalries. On that fateful
afternoon in May, I hopped onto bus, eyes still glued to my Gameboy. I was prepared for a
peaceful ride home, when suddenly, I was tapped on the shoulder. I looked up to see a cheery-
eyed fifth grader, a Gameboy in one hand and a link cable in the other.
Hey man, you want to battle? he asked. Feeling cocky, I accepted his challenge
immediately. We chose our lineup, linked up our Gameboys, and commenced the battle. My
team is the best, I thought, surely this stranger cant beat me. However, when he released his
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first Pokmon, my mindset immediately changed. He had caught one of the rare Pokmon, one
that most of the school hadnt learned how to catch yet, and he had trained it to the highest level
too. Still feeling high and mighty, I countered with the same Pokmon. Although it was several
levels lower, I was confident that I would still be able to beat him.
What followed was what I still consider the most complete and utter failure of my life.
With just his one Pokmon, he completely annihilated my entire team. Compared to his, my
Pokmon just could not keep up. I do not recall even being able to make a single move before his
Pokmon would knock mine out in one hit. The entire battle lasted mere minutes, and by the
time it was over, I felt devastated. The smirk my challenger had on his face said it all: I was a
loser. I had thought too highly of myself, and he used that to his advantage.
When I arrived home, I cried. I had just lost at the one thing that defined me. I was
supposed to be the best around. I should have beaten him. I felt ashamed to even go back to
school after that. I fell into what could be described as a third grade depression, which loomed
over me for the rest of the night. That night, I vowed never to fail like I had ever again.
So what did I learn from my devastating defeat? I experienced for the first time the feeling
of utter loss, the feeling of complete worthlessness. For the first time, I had my whole world
turned upside down. But this feeling did not stick to me like it does to other people. I learned to
overcome the dread I felt. Using my mistake, I ensured that I would not fall so low again. I made
sure to work harder toward my goals, not loaf around expecting them to be completed. I learned
that it was better to try as hard as one can for success rather than content oneself with the current
state of affairs. And most importantly, I learned to humble myself and accept that others might
be stronger than I am. Through the pain of a failure, I learned how to be the very best, like no
one ever was.
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