Weekly Task 6
1. How do you usually look at your mistakes?
I usually take my mistakes very seriously. To tell the truth, I want to be a perfectionist since I think finishing what I have to do and doing a good job are my responsibilities. Moreover, I usually feel a sense of achievement and relief after accomplishing my goals. However, there is a disadvantage of being perfect: I do not dare to try new things or what I am not good at because being afraid of making mistakes.
2. How do you define mistakes?
“We all make mistakes.” I think this saying is true at times, but it can be an excuse as well. As a student, it is not uncommon for me to make mistakes in my studies. Take an experience of Show-and-Tell for example. I made every effort to prepare, trying to feel comfortable on the platform since I believe “Practice makes perfect.”
Nevertheless, the audience found that I was nervous, lacking confidence. Actually, those comments are my drawbacks and also my mistakes. Therefore, my definition of mistakes is that I do something wrong and I do not try my best to avoid putting a foot wrong. Last but not least, a great attitude toward mistakes is that people should learn from mistakes and not be careless or absurd next time.
3. After listening to Prof. Pausch, do you still see mistakes in the same way?
Prof. Pausch’s speech is thought-provoking, which helps me see mistakes from another angle. A quotation from his speech is impressive: “Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us how badly we want things.” I usually feel depressed when failing to attain my objectives, but I never give up. In my opinion, if I cannot overcome difficulties, I will not have a chance to challenge myself and prove that I can succeed. To sum up, never give up whenever you encounter difficulties.
Dear Glory,
回覆刪除It is absolutely right that we all make mistakes. We spend all our lifetime learning everything we want to explore. I think you are already a perfectionist, since you take every mistake seriously. It is good but sometimes you may feel stressful or tired easily. I believe that many people learn their lessons from making mistakes. I know you are pushing yourself very much for doing a good job, and I do appreciate it. However, don’t forget that a feeling of frustration is a kind of learning. I am delighted to see you change your perspective on making mistakes after watching the video. Sometimes you can just take making mistakes for granted and you can release yourself out of the situation. Then, take a deep breath, and move on. It will be better next time. The most impressive quotation from the professor for me is “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you want.” I totally agree with him and I think he provides a different explanation of making mistakes. It is very interesting.
Dear Lily,
回覆刪除We both know that becoming a perfectionist is not easy. Just as you said, people who want to be perfect tend to be weighed down by the pressure. In addition, I agree with you on your statement, “A feeling of frustration is a kind of learning.” After failing to attain my goal or making a mistake, I try to come up with a solution and tell myself “Don’t give up!” Therefore, I can keep going and face unknown and unpredictable difficulties.
Undoubtedly, it is almost impossible for perfectionists to leave the mistakes behind and take those faults lightly. To tell the truth, sometimes I think if I set a goal that is too high to reach for me. If I relax once in a while, maybe I could lead a happier life without too many worries. Is that right?
I am glad to read your comment. Thank you for your suggestions and encouragement. ：）
Truly yours,
Glory
Dear Glory,
回覆刪除It’s good that you know you will lead a happier life for not pushing yourself too much. To tell the truth, I love linguistics and I have taken a course called “Second Language Acquisition” this semester. There are two terms we have discussed in our book pack. There is a huge difference between them: an error can’t be self-correct, but a mistake can be self-correct. After reading the difference, I realize that making a mistake is not that ashamed as long as we know how to correct it. One thing both of us should keep on mind is when we make mistakes, we have to remember the feeling and try hard to make improvement next time. Therefore, we can avoid making mistakes as possible as we can.
Dear Lily,
回覆刪除Thank you for telling me the difference between these two common words. I learn not only new words, but also usage of words by reading your comments. You are so excellent! To avoid using the same words or phrases, I use some synonyms, but sometimes, I am confused that whether I use them correctly.
In addition, the importance of avoiding making the same mistakes cannot be overemphasized. Through this task, I think we would remember how to go when we make mistakes and how to react after we notice those mistakes.
Sincerely,
Glory