The thesis statement of the passage can be summarized as follows: While students often feel enormous pressure to present a perfect image in college applications, genuine growth and success stem from experiencing and learning from failure, which colleges, including Pitzer College, value more than flawless records.
I ask every student I interview for admission
to my institution, Pitzer College, the same
question, “What do you look forward to the
most in college?” I was stunned and delighted
recently when a student sat across from me
at a Starbucks in New York City and replied, “I
look forward to the possibility of failure.” Of
course, this is not how most students respond
to the question when sitting before the
person who can make decisions about their
academic futures, but this young man took a
risk.
“You see, my parents have never let me fail,”
he said. “When I want to take a chance at something, they remind me it’s not a safe route to
take. Taking a more rigorous1
course or trying an activity I may not succeed in, they tell me, will
ruin my chances at college admission. Even the sacrifice of staying up late to do something
unrelated to school, they see as a risk to my academic work and college success.”
I wish I could tell you this is an uncommon story, but kids all over the world admit they are
under tremendous pressure to be perfect. When I was traveling in China last fall and asked a
student what she did for fun, she replied: “I thought I wasn’t supposed to tell you that? I
wouldn’t want you to think I am not serious about my work!”
[1]
1. Rigorous (adjective) very difficult, challenging, or demanding
1
Students are usually in shock when I chuckle and tell them I never expect perfection. In fact, I
prefer they not project it in their college applications. Of course, this goes against everything
they’ve been told and makes young people uncomfortable. How could a dean of admission at
one of America’s most selective institutions not want the best and the brightest? The reality is,
perfection doesn’t exist, and we don’t expect to see it in a college application. In fact, admission
officers tend to be skeptical2
of students who present themselves as individuals without flaws.
These days, finding imperfections in a college application is like looking for a needle in a
haystack. Students try their best to hide factors they perceive to be negative and only tell us
things they believe we will find impressive. This is supported by a secondary school culture
where teachers are under pressure to give students nothing less than an A, and counselors are
told not to report disciplinary infractions to colleges. Education agents in other countries are
known to falsify student transcripts, assuming that an outstanding GPA is the ticket to
admission.
Colleges respond to culture shifts, and admission officers are digging deeper to find out who
students really are outside of their trophies, medals, and test scores. We get the most excited
when we read an application that seems real. It’s so rare to hear stories of defeat and triumph
that when we do, we cheer. If their perspectives are of lessons learned or challenges overcome,
these applicants tend to jump to the top of the heap at highly selective colleges. We believe an
error in high school should not define the rest of your life, but how you respond could shape
you forever.
I’ve spent enough time in high schools to know teenagers will never be perfect. They do silly
things, mess up, fall down, and lack confidence. The ability to bounce back is a fundamental3
life skill students have to learn on their own. The lessons of failure can’t be taught in a
classroom; they are experienced and reflected upon. During my weekend of interviews, another
student told me, “I’m ashamed to admit I failed precalculus, but I decided to take it again and
got a B-plus. I’m now taking calculus, and even though I don’t love it, I’m glad I pushed through!”
I asked him what he learned from the experience. “I learned to let go of shame,” he said. “I
realized that I can’t let a grade define my success. I also learned that if you want anything bad
enough, you can achieve it.”
I smiled as I wrote his words down on the application-review form. This kid will thrive on my
campus. Not only will the faculty love him, but he has the coping skills he needs to adjust to the
rigors of life in a residential college setting. Failure is about growth, learning, overcoming, and
moving on. Let’s allow young people to fail. Not only will they learn something, it might even get
them into college.
[5]
2. Skeptical (adjective) not easily convinced; doubtful
3. Fundamental (adjective) of central importance
2
"Want to Get Into College? Learn to Fail" from Education Week by Angel B. Pérez. Copyright © 2012
by Angel B. Pérez. Used by permission of author. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
whats the Thesis Statement
9 answers
According to the reading passage, why do people succeed? Use a direct quote from the passage as support.
According to the reading passage, people succeed because they learn from their failures and develop resilience. A relevant quote to support this is: "Failure is about growth, learning, overcoming, and moving on." This emphasizes the idea that success is not just about achieving perfection but rather about how individuals respond to challenges and setbacks.
In your experience, what qualities contribute most to a person's success? Use an example from your personal experiences as support.
In my experience, several qualities contribute significantly to a person's success, including resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset.
Resilience is particularly important because it enables individuals to bounce back from setbacks and learn from failures. For example, during my time pursuing a challenging project at work, I encountered numerous obstacles that initially felt discouraging. Instead of giving up, I adapted my approach, sought feedback, and kept refining my methods. This resilience helped me ultimately complete the project successfully, and I gained valuable skills along the way.
Additionally, having a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work—can profoundly impact how one approaches challenges. I recall a time in school when I struggled with a difficult subject. Rather than accepting my initial poor performance as a definitive measure of my abilities, I viewed it as an opportunity to learn. I sought help from teachers and peers, and over time, my understanding improved significantly.
These qualities not only foster personal success but also contribute to forming meaningful connections with others, as they often encourage collaboration and support along the journey.
In 1-2 sentences of original thought, explain how the
quote from the passage shows why people succeed.
quote from the passage shows why people succeed.
The quote "Failure is about growth, learning, overcoming, and moving on" illustrates that success is rooted in the ability to embrace and learn from setbacks rather than avoiding them. By viewing failure as a stepping stone for personal development, individuals can cultivate resilience and adaptability, which are crucial for achieving long-term success.
Analysis #2: In 1-2 sentences of original thought, explain how your
personal experience shows the qualities that contribute to a person’s
success
personal experience shows the qualities that contribute to a person’s
success
My personal experience with overcoming challenges in a difficult project demonstrates that resilience and a growth mindset are essential qualities for success. By embracing setbacks as opportunities for learning and adapting my approach, I not only achieved my goal but also gained valuable skills that strengthened my ability to tackle future challenges.