Week #2 Reflection

 1/16/2025

Introduction

Dream big, fail big—when we're young, our dreams know no bounds. We imagine space travel or becoming professional athletes who make a massive impact on the world. But as we grow, something changes. We stop dreaming as boldly and become paralyzed by fear. What we don’t always realize is that a childlike approach to dreaming isn’t just important for kids—it’s essential for success. If we want to grow, we have to tap back into that childlike courage to face our fears, dream big, and take that first step, even if we’re not sure where it will lead.

Dreaming is crucial for a child because it helps them see who they could become. While not all dreams are realistic—for example, as a kid, I wanted more than anything to be Spider-Man, swinging around tall buildings and saving lives—those dreams still shaped me. Alongside those wild fantasies, I also had dreams that challenged me to grow and become better. I truly believe that dreaming big as a child is valuable because it offers the privilege of failing big. And as Randy Pausch explained, failing big is one of the best ways to grow. Failure teaches lessons that success never could, ultimately making us better people in the long run.

To experience this growth, we need to face our fears head-on, just like we did when we were kids. Dreaming big requires courage—the same courage that pushes us to set bold goals and take risks. It’s through that willingness to face the unknown and embrace failure that we unlock our true potential and continue growing.

Key Information Learned

This week, something that really stood out to me was the idea that failure is the recipe for success. It’s not about avoiding failure but about how we view it. Failure isn’t something bad; it’s the medium we use to find success. The blessing of experience comes at the price of failure, but that’s the trade-off for true growth. The lessons we learn from mistakes can pave the way for major victories later. This perspective shift was powerful for me because it reframed failure as part of the process rather than something to fear.

Lessons Learned

What hit me most this week is that who we are and the choices we make when faced with failure and rejection define our character. It’s not about how many times we fall but how we respond each time we do. We’re meant to fail, learn, and gain experience—it’s part of what makes us human. Staying true to ourselves during those tough times keeps us moving forward. This is what helps us grow and eventually achieve our goals, even if it’s not in the way we originally planned.

Lessons Not Yet Learned

While I understand that failure is a key part of success, I’m still working on how to embrace it in the moment without getting discouraged. It’s easy to look back and appreciate the lessons failure taught me, but it’s harder to feel that way in real time. Another area I’m still figuring out is how to balance dreaming big with being realistic. Lofty goals are great, but they can feel overwhelming without actionable steps. Finally, rejection is something I’m learning to handle better. Facing it head-on and bouncing back quickly is a skill I want to keep improving.

Summary

Dreaming big as a child gives us direction, growth, and resilience. Even if we don’t achieve every dream, the pursuit itself teaches us valuable lessons. This week reminded me that failure isn’t the end; it’s a steppingstone. The experience we gain through failure is worth every mistake because it shapes who we are and pushes us toward success. Staying true to ourselves and committing to growth ensures that we keep moving forward, no matter how many times we fall. This journey of dreaming, failing, and learning is what makes life meaningful.