Never Fail Again

By Max Lino Payyampallil

Failure is one of life’s most potent teachers—a bitter pill that forces us to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. For ACCA students, failure often feels like a public declaration of inadequacy, an exclamation mark in an otherwise silent journey. I’ve been there, and if you’re reading this, chances are you have too. So, let’s talk about failure—raw, honest, and unfiltered.

The Day of Failure: A Painful Awakening

The day I failed my ACCA exam remains etched in my memory. It wasn’t just a bad day; it was a day of self-doubt and public shame. Everyone had something to say—parents, friends, even casual acquaintances. My parents tried to console me, but their words felt like salt in the wound. My peers’ reactions ranged from indifferent to overly sympathetic. And me? I laughed it off with a hint of sarcasm, masking the storm brewing inside.

Let’s be honest: failing an ACCA exam is painful, especially if it’s by just one mark. That one mark—so close, yet so far—feels like the universe mocking your efforts. But here’s a thought: add value to that one mark. Let it fuel your determination. Feel the pinch, channel the shame, and transform it into grit.

As Oscar Wilde once said, “What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.”

Accepting the Reality of Failure

The first step in overcoming failure is accepting it. Sounds simple, right? But here’s the kicker: acceptance comes in three layers.

Accept that you failed. Stop pretending it didn’t happen.
Accept that it was your failure. No excuses, no blaming the examiners, the syllabus, or the alignment of the stars.
Accept that it was your mistake. Own up to what went wrong—whether it was poor preparation, overconfidence, or simply bad timing.

It’s human nature to criticize everything except ourselves. When I failed, my first instinct was to rant about the “unfair” exam pattern. But deep down, I knew the truth: I could have done better. Understanding your failure is the first step toward success. As my mentor Anish Mohan Kottayam once said, “The time you failed is not the real failure. The real failure is when you decide to give up on overcoming it.”

The Aftermath: A Slippery Slope

Failure doesn’t just sting—it seeps into every aspect of your life. For weeks, I battled laziness, anxiety, and a lack of motivation. The thought of starting again felt overwhelming. My mind spiraled into a cycle of “what-ifs”:

What if I had chosen a different path?
What if I had focused on my own priorities instead of those set by others?

It’s easy to feel resentful, especially when you see peers of the same age achieving the dreams you’ve put on hold. But comparison is the thief of joy. The past can’t be rewritten, but the future is yours to shape.

The Power of a Helping Hand

At my lowest point, I realized how crucial it is to have at least one person by your side. That one friend who, without hesitation, stands with you, offering support when the world feels overwhelming. Their presence doesn’t always change the situation, but it shifts your perspective. They don’t sugarcoat things but offer genuine, constructive insights that help you move forward, step by step.

This experience is what inspired the creation of the ACCA Mentor Buddy program. Just as having that one friend to lean on was my lifeline, I wanted to provide ACCA students with that same support—a mentor who understands the struggles and offers practical, empathetic guidance. The ACCA Mentor Buddy is more than just a mentor; it’s a true companion, helping students navigate the tough times, just as I was helped during my own challenges.

Rebuilding Faith and Motivation

At my lowest, I felt disconnected from everything—even prayer. I had lost faith, not just in God but in myself. And yet, in that void, I stumbled upon a profound realization:

“It’s not when you feel you can’t do anything, but when you realize you’re nothing, that God’s hand will be lent to you.”

This quote became my anchor. It reminded me that failure strips away the superficial, leaving you with an opportunity to rebuild from the ground up.

Breaking the Chains of Addiction

One of the darkest revelations during this period was recognizing my addiction—not to substances, but to habits and distractions that numbed my pain. Social media became my escape, but it only deepened my inertia. With the help of my genuine friends, I took drastic steps to break free. I deleted all social media platforms and focused on rebuilding myself.

Addiction, in any form, is a dangerous trap. Acknowledge it, seek help, and take actionable steps to overcome it. Recovery is a process, but every step forward counts.

The Art of Letting Go

Letting go is an act of self-respect—it’s not about giving up, but making space for growth. Never compromise your self-esteem for anyone. As the saying goes, “What’s meant for you will never miss you, and what misses you was never meant for you.”

The Road to Redemption

Rebuilding after failure is a journey, not a sprint. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn. Here are some steps that worked for me:

Start Small: Focus on one subject, one chapter, or even one topic. Progress, no matter how small, builds momentum.
Seek Support: Don’t isolate yourself. Lean on friends, mentors, and programs like ACCA Mentor Buddy.
Reignite Joy: Reconnect with activities that make you happy. Joy fuels motivation.
Learn from Mistakes: Treat failure as a teacher. Identify what went wrong and adjust your approach.
Stay Positive: As clichéd as it sounds, optimism is a powerful tool. Believe in your ability to rise again.

A Final Thought

Failure isn’t the end; it’s a comma in your story, not a full stop. It’s an opportunity to reassess, reframe, and rebuild. To all ACCA aspirants out there: don’t let failure define you. Let it refine you. As my mentor wisely said, “The time you failed is not the real failure. The real failure is when you decide to give up on overcoming it.”

Remember, the journey to success is paved with setbacks. Embrace them, learn from them, and keep moving forward. And when you do rise, you’ll be stronger, wiser, and ready to face whatever challenges come your way.

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