A spectacular fail of a year.

It has been a long time since I have put my thoughts out into the blogosphere, but as we round out an exciting year, I thought it best to share my learnings. This year can be really summed up by one word: failure, and I have failed in so many ways. Though we are often daunted by failure, the space between achievement and failure is probably the only true place where we are learning. 

So this year had all been building towards my 400 metre swim, the last barrier standing between me and qualification as a Surf Lifesaver. The barrier before that had been a written exam, and having never thrived in those environments, that did feel like a step. On arriving at the pool a full hour early, I was unsure what to do: a warm-up lap? I kind of milled around looking for anyone vaguely familiar. Finally, I settled into the hot pool; the idea was to loosen me up a bit after quite a while in it I got out to look where we might muster. Only then did I realise the written part of the exam had already started. I popped through with no pen and slightly dripping from the water and proceeded to start the quite intensive paperwork, racking my brain for all the first aid responses. 

First day on Patrol Brighton Surf life saving pre test. pre-test

Having completed this section, it was now the time of reckoning, the swim, a year's worth of preparation hinging on me making the magic 9-minute time for 400 metres. A number of my students were nervous, but blitzed the test in well under 9 minutes. A younger fella than me led the way on my lane, then it was me to go. A graceful dive followed by some thrashing of the arms. Heart pounding I swam and swam. Being lapped twice by the other trainee in his finding Nemo swim cap did not bode well. Students at the side saying “come on Mr Trickey you might make it”, fortified me not to quit. Then the moment of truth hitting the wall metaphorically and physically I stopped. 400 metres down and the taste of vomit in my mouth, breathing heavily, I ask how it was. 11:40 is almost a full 3 minutes short of the target. A resounding Fail. 

The Rhythm team preparing for the Wild card pitches

It had been the story of the week, really. All year, I had been mentoring 13 business teams from years 12 and 13. The aim was clear for me to steer as many to the Young Enterprise National finals in Wellington as possible. This was to be through winning regionals or receiving a National Excellence award. As the Regional Finals rolled around, I had 2 teams in the regional finals and 1 team asked to attend, potentially winning a regional or national award. The pitches again were second to none, my students are outstanding business pitchers and have blossoming Networking skills. This has been achieved through deliberate actions, ensuring we turn up to business after five events, creating front-facing customer opportunities and practising pitching unrelentingly. The Judges, though, chose a different team, the third year in a row we have been runners-up at the Regional finals. This had me starting to get a bridesmaid complex. 

Before this announcement, there were the national awards announcements. We held our breath. Rhythm 3rd place in Innovation Nationally and first place regionally. Their carefully crafted drink is designed to support women throughout their menstrual journey, providing natural relief from period-related symptoms. It had been stocked at 4 retailers, shipped to the USA, and they were in talks with Australian retailers. Not only that, but positive and assuring feedback from their clientele. Next to hold their breath was Tipu Tona, a māori led company that produced a children's book affirming Māori identity and using the Kia Tahu dialect. The National runner-up for the Māori rangatahi Entrepreneur of the Year. About as close to getting on the plane to Wellington as you could be. 

This year, we have been told almost repetitively that our education system and the youth within it are failing. Our ministers and governmental leaders are telling us that our kids are failing and falling behind. Yet there is something about failing that fortifies our learning and progress. In the world, we often fail. I share my personal and professional failures with you here as well as in the classroom, telling my students about my failures at school, failing both Maths and English in year 12 or S5 in the Scottish system. Failing to make the regional rugby team, failing to get into the first XV. By saving students from failing, are we failing them in lifelong learning and skills that come with failure? 

Lip sync champions 9PN

For me, what did I gain from my failure of the life guard test: An improved ability to swim, a shiny new blue uniform so I can support our life guards as we patrol the beaches and an incredible network of new friends. Also a shot at Nationals for the beach events. The students, though gutted to not make the national finals, their learning confidence and growth. To go from concept to execution of product to actual sales in a calendar year is just so joyful.

Failure is not always absolute; it is the point we can start to grow from. The important thing about when we fail is having networks around us to further support our growth without this support and investment young people can find themselves defined by the stigma attached to failing. So to all my fellow failures out there let's brush ourselves off and get ready to fail again next year, as if we stop failing we will stop growing. ,