My CV of Failures
- Wen Xin
- Apr 16, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 15, 2023
Updated on 16th April 2022
TAN WEN XIN
CV OF LIFE FAILURES
So I am starting this CV of Failure in May 1st, 2016. I am 23 years old, at the decade where uncertainties rule. I was a high achiever back in Malaysia, but after a few job attachments and a scholarship to Australia for an undergraduate study, I found myself slumped into the failure zone and thought ‘Hey, maybe after all, I am not as bright as I thought.’ But since I am nowhere near successful or perhaps this CV of Failures would be ‘brighter’ than the one I used to apply for jobs, but I reckon this CV would at least give you a perception and give myself a reminder - Life is made up of both successes and failures. I hope you would be able to get something out of it, whether positively or negatively, that is your interpretation.
This idea is definitely not mine, but inspired by a Princeton professor, Johannes Haushofer [1]in 2016 who was inspired by an article by Melanie I. Stefan[2]. These days, we can have decorated LinkedIn profile with great career achievements, but no one would publicly put out the failures done at work or at life. They say I would like to make it a commitment, to write down my CV of Life Failures. My definition of failure could be something unachieved, an unfavorable outcome, a less than ideal decision, a moment of shame from an action... "You can't connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backward." - Steve Jobs. May these failures serve as a reminder to myself and maybe to you, that it is perfectly okay to fail, and failures are there for a reason, and you get to make something out of failing.
2021 (29yo)
Relationship didn't work out
Didn't bring an initiative into life being an initiative owner by leaving the company
2019 (27yo)
Being implied for not being good enough for the promotion I eyed on since day 1
2016 (24yo)
Scammed and lost some amount of parents' money to a trading platform
2015 (23yo)
Failed a course at university
Applied for a series of sales assistants casual jobs and didn't get employ
Got yelled by a fellow sales assistant on day 1 for not serving a customer on the cashier
2013 (21yo)
Applied to a series of top UK universities for undergrad program and unable to get into the top ones to qualify for scholarship
Ran for Student Organization Vice President and Secretary and lost both running
2012 (20 yo)
Dream crushed - applied for 10+ scholarships and unable to land a scholarship to further my undergrad studies overseas
2011 (19yo)
Ran for President for Student Council as a 1st year and lost to a 3rd year student
Pre u results are not good enough to get scholarships
<2004 (less than 12yo)
Got caught not paying attention at school, confiscated and got
Bumped into second row during a choir performance
Got yelled by the headmaster for being noisy and dramatic
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