In my 18 years of living, I can reluctantly say that I have failed at least a thousand times.

Getting a worse grade on a test retake, being late to work three days in a row, and falling 0.006 below my goal grade point average are just three things I have failed at in my life.

Every time someone tells me I failed at something, I physically and emotionally feel terrible. It is like a slap in the face.

To me, “fail” is a disgusting word.

“Fail” has many definitions — to fall short, to be inefficient, and to be unsuccessful are just three.

All of the people I know are afraid of the “F” word, including me. It is not just an adult concern; almost everyone is scared to fail.

As I am in rigorous academic courses, my classmates and I have a lot of homework on a daily basis, including having to study a lot for quizzes and tests.

I do not mind studying so much, but I cannot stand when I spend a lot of time studying to only bomb a test.

I put in a lot of effort to do well, but sometimes I do not earn the grade that I had hoped for.

So why is failure such a prevalent thing in peoples lives, even when they do try their best?

Why do parents, teachers, and friends emphasize that I can fail if I do not prepare myself for things?

Anyone with a list of accomplishments also has a list of failures.

To fail is to be human.

How did Steve Jobs make Apple?

He did not try once and then — boom — create Apple. It took countless times of failing to bring him to his success. (Thankfully he did succeed. Where would the world be without iPhones?)

Failure is a hard thing to accept. But it can also give you a chance to have new beginnings.

Everyone can relate to failure.

For the child who spells a word wrong in a spelling bee, failure brings a chance to try again the next year.

For the student who fails a test, failure brings a chance to better himself in the subject.

For the pre-medical student who flunks out of school, failure brings realization for a different career.

For the athlete who comes in second place, practice will only make her work harder.

For the parents who had trouble raising their first child, their failures prepare them to make raising the next child easier.

For the wife or husband who divorced, that failed marriage brings a chance to find new love.

Failure does not mean to never try again.

It means to work harder. Do not beat yourself up over failure. Instead, make a new plan to succeed.

Failure is the road to success because, let’s face it, it is rare that the first time we do something we succeed.

We must do what all successful people have done: try and try again.

The truth is, usually, you have to fail to succeed.

Do not let the fear of failure keep you from doing great things.