Winning essays from 2023 KAISTian Failure Story Contest  Yunseo Lee (KAIST School of Electrical Engineering) I think the most important thing is to have courage – the courage to be able to view a failure as something that should just be appreciated as it is. However, simply remaining stationary and staring at the failure will do you no good; a much better approach would be to wholly examine the failure and consider it something to ‘carry with you’ on your journey forward. Even now, my face becomes flush red and my heart starts pounding whenever I am under the spotlight. Anyone who has seen me give speeches will have heard my shaking voice, seen my trembling hands, and noticed my shuffling feet. Nevertheless, I still take the time for self-reflection after such moments to objectively analyze my performance from the audience’s perspective. Once that is done, I move on with my life. I can attest to the fact that I am slowly becoming more confident whenever I speak. This growth started when I decided to accept my failures and carry them along with me.

Winning essays from 2023 KAISTian Failure Story Contest  Mammadova Fakhriyya (KAIST School of Electrical Engineering) Now, I prioritize embracing the learning process. My perspective has changed, recognizing that the establishment of a healthy self-image is an ongoing and evolving journey rather than a fixed destination. I have come to value every step forward, understanding that growth and learning demand vulnerability and openness to new experiences.

Winning essays from 2023 KAISTian Failure Story Contest  Cheeyoung Ahn (KAIST Graduate School of Culture Technology) Life is not always smooth sailing, but then again, it wouldn’t be much fun if it was. Sometimes the waves are rough and the sea becomes turbulent due to strong winds. Is it not natural for life to also be constantly changing and taking on various forms? Your life will also be full of 180-degree turns and moments when everything turns upside down. I believe the secret to enjoying a rewarding and fulfilling life lies in embracing life’s most difficult moments with unwavering determination and a positive mindset.Changing the shape, direction, and angle of the lines of a shape will give us an even broader variety of shapes and forms. Even if my life is flipped over, distorted, or tilted in one direction, as long as my identity remains intact, I can constantly adapt to various crises by changing and evolving.

Winning essays from 2023 KAISTian Failure Story Contest  Nengroo Sarvar Hussain (KAIST Cho Chun Shik Graduate School of Mobility) Finally, the valuable insights obtained from research on coping with failure have the potential for adaptation and application within the university environment. Utilizing diverse approaches, such as lectures, guest speakers, case studies, and role plays, could be implemented by creating a seminar or lecture series for graduate students, helping them navigate and cope with the inevitable failures they may encounter during their academic journey. While universities already ensure graduate students possess the necessary knowledge and skills for their rigorous research programs, only a few institutions genuinely address the emotional resilience required to handle the associated stress. By increasing awareness of academic culture, preparing them for potential challenges, and equipping them with coping strategies, universities can take a positive step toward fostering emotionally resilient and well-prepared students/scholars. Such efforts would contribute to a healthier academic environment that values the holistic development of its students.

Winning essays from 2023 KAISTian Failure Story Contest  Sean Tristan De Guzman (KAIST Mechanical Engineering Department) Finally, and perhaps this is the best lesson I took from the experience, you are who you set your mind to be. As long as willpower is coupled with a healthy mix of realism, it is more than enough to fuel my drive towards any goal I set for myself.

Winning essays from 2023 KAISTian Failure Story Contest  Syed Sheraz Ali (KAIST Mechanical Engineering Department) The power to shape your goals, success, and vision for a bright future and fulfilling life lies within your own hands. Learning to smile amidst the pains and challenges of life is the key to achieving anything you set your mind to. While the external world may seem beautiful, the inner light within you truly illuminates your path. Embrace positivity and strive for success.

Winning essays from 2023 KAISTian Failure Story Contest  Hyein Jeong (School of Electrical Engineering of KAIST) The idea of all things being empty and the fact that success and failure depends on one’s perception does not mean that one should try to self-justify everything, become complacent with reality, and make no effort whatsoever. Nor does it mean that we should consider all bad things as positive events. It means that nothing in the world is absolutely positive or absolutely negative. The main lesson is to not torture oneself by deeming empty things that are beyond one’s control as ‘definite failures.’

Winning essays from the CAF contest "My Failure Story“ OOO / Department of Biological Sciences of KAIST From here onward, I started to ponder about the following question: ‘does failure actually exist in this world?’ Should we define failure as every instance where a person is unable to achieve the results they would ideally like to? All endeavors will produce some sort of result, and in the process, we are also given opportunities to grow. Then, could we say that I failed because I chose to avoid the problem after running into a wall? What exactly is failure?  Some readers may look at my story and think that it does not really fit under the category of failure. Others may think that I had the courage to overcome my failure and achieve success. It is natural for people to have different opinions since the term ‘failure’ in itself is subjective. If someone asked me, “have you failed before?”, I can confidently reply with the following response: “No, I have never failed. Instead, I made an ‘attempt,’ experienced a ‘setback,’ and had the ‘strength’ and ‘courage’ to overcome it.”

Winning essays from the CAF contest "My Failure Story“ OOO School of Electrical  Engineering of KAIST We spend a lot of time in school learning Korean, English, math, and our major fields, but I had very few opportunities to learn about the art of dating. This is why I feel like I struggle with relationships, and I still find it difficult to find the balance between dating and the work I need to do in life. Also, I don’t think I am good at recognizing whether a relationship I have with someone is just between friends or between two people who have feelings for each other. It would be nice to have someone who could teach me about how to be good at dating. 

Winning essays from the CAF contest "My Failure Story" Jeanne Choi   / School of Computing, KAIST The question I want to ask every reader is ‘are you currently living a successful life?’ Since there can only be one person at the very top, most people will probably answer no. Then, let’s slightly change the question: ‘what makes you truly happy and satisfied, and are you living your life doing that?’ If you are, then you can proudly say that you are ‘living a successful life.’ However, if you are not living your life doing what you love to do, then I urge you to get up and start right away. Even if it means making some sacrifices right now, you need to make some changes if you do not want to live your entire life as a frog that is forever stuck in a well with nothing to see except the walls around it.