26A

• Tell us about a time this past semester that you failed -- whether in this class or outside of this class. Don't spare any details! It'd be even better if there was something you tried several times this semester and failed each time. 
• Just recently, I felt like I failed as a leader. As the president and co-founder of the nation's second black public relations student society, I first launched my organization earlier this semester. I remember holding my first meeting in August and having an amazing turnout of over 40 people. At the second meeting, I had a turnout of only three people. I felt like I failed immediately.
• Tell us what you learned from it.  
• I learned that failure is needed to light an ignition and create a fire. In other words, I needed to see that we as an organization lacked stable and loyal participants. I learned in general that it is important to come up with new tactics and learn our audience. We are mainly targeting students of color who major in the communications field because we share commonalities. I tabled on campus, posted in group chats and directed my board to promote our meetings everywhere they could. We ended up having a great turnout of students.
  
  
• Reflect, in general, on what you think about failure.
  This experience showed me that failure is only a learning opportunity. It drives me personally to analyze what I did wrong, and what to do better next time. I am truly grateful for failure because I am able to sit down and view exactly what next steps I need to take as a student and future professional. I would tell people around me as advice to never give up. Failure is truly about learning. I can't wait to continue spreading this message.