As a departing senior, I should have some sort of wisdom to give.

However, having had an exceedingly mediocre high school career, I find it difficult to find successes to speak of and even more so to believe that I was somehow able to figure it all out in the past four years.

In fact, just about any teacher I’ve had could probably say I hadn’t.

I find it much more appropriate to speak about failure. It’s much less alluring, I know, to listen to someone give advice based on their mistakes as opposed to a long list of accomplishments.

But I hear people say that you learn more from failing, and I believe it.

Maybe I would’ve learned more if I had a 4.0 GPA instead of a sub-3.0, maybe not.

Maybe having better grades would’ve prepared me more for college than the failures I’ve experienced. I know it would’ve put me in a better position to receive scholarships, but would it have put me in a better position to be successful?

I look at the shortcomings that have defined my academic career and choose to see what they will bring to my future. I consider my failures to be invaluable to my potential.

Do I wish I had applied myself more in school to meet a higher standard of expectations?

Yes, of course I do.

However, at this moment, I would not exchange my experiences for anything.

Some people might not understand this logic. But these failures have left me with an understanding of what it means to fall short. I will not easily be overwhelmed when something goes awry. I will be able to recognize failure and look it in the face. Because there will be times that all of us will fail.

No matter how many A’s you get, eventually, you’ll screw up. That’s not supposed to sound ominous or pessimistic — just honest.

What I mean is, any situation can be used to your advantage if you put yourself in the right mindset. Whether it’s a success or a failure, it can be a positive thing if you let it.

Before high school began, I told myself I would end the pattern of irresponsibility that established itself in my middle school days. Four years later, I find myself saying the same thing before college. This time, mistakes will be much more expensive, but I’m not worried.

Maybe I’m wrong not to be. But I think I have learned from my failures. Perhaps, most importantly, my performance has left me with a desire to prove myself.

That’s what BV has provided me with. Maybe I didn’t always help our case when Mr. Bacon was attempting to purge the school of D’s and F’s.

BV has prepared me well. Not, I guess, down the most common path, but I feel prepared all the same.