Prompt: Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
Ever since I began my journey as a competitive programmer in Grade 5, I've always dreamed that I could one day represent Canada at the International Olympiad of Informatics. I was fortunate enough to join the best high school programming club in Canada and grew up admiring my mentors, whom had received medals at the IOI. After years of trials and tribulations, I was finally given my chance. I was absolutely ecstatic when I was selected for the Canadian team in Grade 11. However, my performance at the IOI proved to be my greatest failure to date.
In the weeks leading up to the IOI, I devoted myself entirely to practice. I knew how great of an opportunity I was given, and I didn't want to waste it. Whenever an online platform, such as TopCoder or CodeForces, organized a mock competition, I leapt into action. I put myself under a tremendous amount of pressure in order to maximize my growth. When the team arrived in Taiwan for the IOI, I was anxious. I knew it would be one of the defining chapters of my high school life.
The competition was carried out over two days - six problems, ten hours, one computer. At the end of the first day, I was in clear contention for a bronze medal. Towards the final minutes of the second day, I was nearing a breakthrough on the problem "Gondola". I submitted my solution with 30 minutes left in the competition. 75/100 - a single test case had eluded me, which set me back 25 points. When the competition was over, the results were released instantaneously - I was 13 points below the Bronze medal cut-off, and will not receive a medal at the IOI. Over lunch, I realized my mistake - I had overlooked a particular case, a case that could be resolved in a single line of code. When I revised and submitted my code after the competition, it received full marks. That miniscule mistake had cost me the bronze medal.
Was I upset? Absolutely - I was livid. It's a crushing feeling, knowing that such a simple oversight had put an end to my hopes. If only I had been a bit less careless. If only I had thought of more possibilities. If only, if only, if only. I was certain this experience would ruin my trip.
Well, I surprised myself. When I woke up the next day, I wasn't upset anymore. The gargantuan weight upon my shoulders had evaporated. I breathed easier, I felt lighter, and I smiled brighter. I went to a water park, visited a traditional Taiwanese market, and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of my trip. Despite my heartbreaking result, the 2014 IOI was one of the best experiences of my life.
Do I regret anything? Yes. I regret the anxiety and the stress. I regret that I couldn't enjoy my trip sooner, and that I didn't talk to as many interesting competitors as I could have. I regret that I had spent 9 days with over 300 of the greatest young minds in the world, and only spent 4 days socializing with them.
From this experience, I learned to accept my mistakes and move on. Mistakes happen. I did everything I could. I poured every ounce of my being for this competition, but I still made mistakes. So be it. It would have been a real shame if I had let my mistake take control of my life. When the award ceremony took place, I felt an ache in my chest as I watched the medalists receive their medals, because I knew how close I was from being on that stage. But this failure is my greatest motivation - I'll be back next year, and I'll get that medal.
~ I really didn't like how this essay turned out. I cut out a lot of information to fit it within the 650 word limit. Feel free to be as critical as can be. Thanks.
I felt like the essay really portrayed how you are human, and you definitely did a great job with turning the event into a positive note. My only criticism would be how suddenly you rebounded. Was there a particular reason why you were't upset anymore? Overall I felt the essay was solid!
