International Day for Failure: Lessons for the brave

Today is International Day for Failure. Yes, apparently there's a day to celebrate all the times life laughs at you, when your plans don't work, when your WiFi cuts out during that critical Zoom call, or when your "brilliant idea" dies before you even pitch it. And for a moment, it feels like the universe is just keeping score of how many times you stumble.

But here's the thing: failing is not shameful. It's not the opposite of success. In fact, it's the tuition fee life charges for learning faster than any classroom ever could. Every "no," every rejection, every embarrassment is a lesson carefully disguised in pain. That failed BCS attempt probably taught patience, endurance, and resilience. That internship you didn't get is a gentle nudge pointing toward the opportunities you actually deserve. And remember that startup that flopped? Congratulations — you now know what not to do next time.

We live in a country where the pressure to succeed is relentless. From coaching centres in Farmgate to all those Model United Nations (MUN) sessions at Dhaka University, youth are told to excel, achieve, and outperform — all while juggling part-time jobs, side hustles, and the never-ending quest for experience.

Every exam, every project, and every application feels like a test of our worth. But here's the secret: the people who succeed aren't the ones who never fail. They're the ones who embrace failure, laugh at it, learn from it, and use it to build momentum.

Failure is the invisible teacher in the middle of Dhaka traffic, the one that teaches patience when your rickshaw ride takes an hour for a journey that should take ten minutes. It's in the endless waiting at the BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority) for your driving license and the hours spent perfecting assignments only to have the projector crash in class. It's in the missed scholarships, the job rejections, and the projects that didn't see the light of day. All of these are lessons waiting to be noticed — lessons that prepare you to handle bigger challenges with grace.

Let's be honest: failure hurts. It makes your heart sink and your confidence wobble. It tests your patience when your dreams seem just out of reach. But it also shows you what you're made of. It forces you to analyse, to reflect, to rethink strategies and priorities. Every failed attempt is an opportunity to adjust your approach and get one step closer to your goal.

And here's where the fun comes in: failure is hilarious, too. Because when you look back at your blunders, the awkward rejections, the disastrous presentations, and the side hustle that never paid off, all you can do is laugh. It's okay to giggle at your own mistakes — in fact, it's necessary. Laughing at failure is proof that you survived it, that it didn't define you, and that you're ready to try again with more wisdom and better strategies.

Youth in Bangladesh often face the added pressure of family expectations. Parents tell us to "study harder," "get a secure job," or "stop wasting time" as if life were a simple checklist. And while their advice comes from love, it sometimes makes failure feel like personal defeat. But remember, failing to meet someone else's expectations are not failing yourself. International Failure Day reminds us that life is not about perfection — it's about progress, growth, and learning from what doesn't work. Every setback is a stepping stone, every mistake a plot twist in your success story.

So, today, don't just mourn your failures, rather celebrate them. Celebrate the courage it takes to try again, the creativity it sparks, and the lessons it teaches. Missed that internship? Good — now you know the type of work you truly want to do. Bombed that exam? Perfect — now you know how to study smarter, not just harder. The failed startup, the side hustle that never took off, the presentation that crashed — they are all badges of honour, proof that you dared to try.

Failure isn't the end; it's the beginning of every success story you haven't written yet. It's proof that you're alive, ambitious, and willing to push boundaries. It's the reality check that keeps you grounded and the mirror that shows where improvement is possible. And the best part? You get to define your own version of success. You get to decide what lessons matter, what risks are worth taking, and which failures are worth laughing at.

So, to every young person reading this, struggling through exams, jobs, relationships, or side hustles: embrace your failures. Learn from them, celebrate them, and use them as fuel. Today isn't about being a failure; it's about recognising that failure is part of the journey — the messy, chaotic, beautiful path that eventually leads to growth, achievement, and self-discovery.

Fail today, laugh today, learn today — and take one step closer to the version of yourself that no setback can stop. Because failure isn't your enemy; it's your mentor, your guide, and sometimes, your funniest companion.