This past semester, I have been taking a wheel-throwing ceramics class. I have never taken a class like this before, so it was my first time working with clay for a purpose. I'm choosing to write about this class because I have definitely made mistakes and failed multiple times. Working with clay on the wheel is so difficult because there are so many things that can ruin all of your work in a second. You have to be really careful throughout each step in the process or your whole piece could be ruined. If you don't wedge it correctly, there could be air bubbles, and it could explode in the kiln. Then, on the wheel, the slightest move of your hand could completely change the pot. Then if you don't wax enough during glazing, glaze could drip in the second firing and your piece would be stuck to the kiln shelf. I have made several of these mistakes throughout the semester because I am still learning.
This class has been very frustrating at times because of how these small mistakes can ruin a piece you put hours into. I have had to learn that you cannot be a perfectionist in pottery. I tend to be a perfectionist, so this was a very hard lesson. I also learned the importance of slowing down and taking my time. This is not something that can be rushed, so I just tried to chill out and enjoy the ups and downs of the process. I also learned that even though it was hard and stressful, I never wanted to quit. I did not want to create work I wasn't proud of so that pushed me to continue working on it.
Failure is hard, and its not fun. It is disappointing, and frustrating. But, it is so important because I think it is necessary for progress. I had to change my mindset in ceramics class to change how I thought about failure and making mistakes. It is still disappointing when a piece does not turn out how I hoped it would, but now I just think about what I can learn from it and do better for next time. Sometimes failure is the only way to learn. This class has reinforced that mindset about failure. I think I am more likely to take a risk now because I have realized that failure is not the end-all-be-all.
Hi Alison, reading your reflection of your failure has inspired me to look at failure differently. I think that one of the most valuable things is to learn how to take failure and learn from it. Dealing with the frustrations in your class was probably not the most fun thing, but learning to take a valuable lesson from that is admirable and important.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a good job taking something that is probably really frustrating and finding a takeaway from it. It can be tough being a perfectionist in a world where not everything is in your control. I agree with you that failure is necessary for progress, so you can learn how not to do things and find better ways.
ReplyDeleteHey Allison! You seem to have a clear understanding of how to deal with failure. Yes, I know that we all never purposely intend on doing so, but there are many valuable lessons that we can take from them. As long as you keeping push yourself to do great, you will achieve anything you put to mind. You've got this!
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