WHAT DOES "FAILING MATRIC" MEAN?

By Bethlehem W.

Last week, The National Educational Assessment and Examination Services released the Ethiopian University Entrance Exam results. The Exam, administered back in October, was the first of its kind in terms of location, as it took place in public universities in an attempt to prevent cheating and other obstacles.

The results shook the country a great deal, as a staggering number of 865,611 students (which accounts for 96.7% of total exam takers) failed the matriculation. But what does it mean to “fail” matric?

Failing matric means you were not able to achieve the passing point to join a university at this point in your life. Matric is a high-stakes test, however, failing the test is merely a bump on the road.

Failing Forward

The number of successful people who have notably failed is not few. We know their names because they have turned their failure into a forward momentum for success. With perseverance, you too can change the narrative of your story. In Dr.Sbusisio’s words, a South African man who has failed matric three times, “Failure is another phase of success-of course that thought will only come when you go through a squeeze point as I did.” So, think about what you want to do, and chase that until you grab it. This is not the endpoint.

Making Plans

Life does not stop to give you a break, even when you’re feeling overwhelmed, disappointed, or angry. Although you must embrace your emotions and work through them, staying in that negative headspace won’t help much. Cry if you need to, but wipe your tears with a smile after. This is part of the process, and it may be hurtful, but it is necessary for who you are meant to be. You are being prepared for greatness. You just have to keep moving forward.

Consider Alternatives

Failing in school does not mean failure in life, as education is not the only path to success. The world’s most successful people are quite rarely the most educated. The richest American of all time, John D. Rockefeller, only attended high school before going on to found an oil company with a net worth of $340 billion today. Entrepreneurship, vocational education, and alternative forms of training are options you should consider. You can start your own small business, become a content creator on YouTube, or get entry-level jobs to build a network. You can explore your passion while monetizing it. For example, if you’re interested in health and fitness, you can consider being a personal trainer with an industry certification. Furthermore, self-education is also a popular alternative with a wide range of online courses available today.

Lesson Learned

There is absolutely nothing you can achieve by playing the “what if” game. But you can learn a lesson or two by asking, “where and what exactly went wrong?” This reflection will help you put the situation into perspective. Although numerous factors, from lack of preparation to exam stress, may contribute to low grades, there are a couple of things you could have done differently. Be honest with yourself and take a deeper look into how you spent your time and energy, not merely for criticism but for improvement. This is an opportunity for you to identify your weak points and do something about it.

Life is a series of ups and downs, but if you stay down, you will not experience the great moments of life that make it worth living. The only step now is forward. Dust off the negative energy and step into the light with the lessons you have learned. You got this.

Book Recommendations

From Mekdela Mekuria

By Wayne Dyer

The book illustrates how and why a shift from ambition to meaning eliminates our feelings of separateness, illuminates our spiritual connectedness, and involves moving from the ego-directed morning into the afternoon of life where everything is primarily influenced by purpose.