Invicta Vlogs
Evolve like Pokémon
Sometimes things that can happen in ways that you would not often predict, or in not the ways that you would hope for it to. Having spanners thrown into meticulous and well thought out plans has often made me feel dejected, but I have recently been trying to alter my outlook into a more positive one. Seeing those in the year below apply for the roles of Senior Prefect highlighted to me the amount of change that has happened in the past year, and how I may have not transpired in the way that I had planned in the beginning of Year 12, with various difficulties and unexpected setbacks along the way. Transforming these setbacks into positives has helped me consider alternatives to premeditated plans and has helped broaden my horizons and experiences.
Personally, I am not a very spontaneous person, and aim to plan most things out, whether it be trips out with friends or the journey to school every morning – I am not fond of surprises! However, I have learnt that surprises are inevitable at times. Whilst these surprises do not necessarily matter, it is the way we choose to deal with them that can have a larger impact. Facing a setback or disappointment can be a valuable lesson if you allow it to be. What I had previously not realised before being at Invicta, is that the mindset and attitude one has towards bad news is key to dealing with it. For me, taking time to pause and process a setback is just as key as the action taking to resolve it. Allowing myself to reflect and look back on what went well and where I could improve, while at the time seemed laborious and sometimes painful, helped me process the emotions, and helped me consider my alternate options. It has helped me embrace the spontaneity that life brings with it and appreciate that sometimes there are other routes better suited for myself, that I had not planned for. It has helped me learn more about myself, my values and enabled me to develop my emotional maturity.
It can be easy to simply give up after facing a challenge, especially when it is something that I am passionate about. As I grew older, my perspective of what I had perceived as ‘failure’ had changed. I had not failed at all, just found an area that I was perhaps weaker at, or not suited to, and that I could not carry the weight of all my errors and disappointments with me forever. Perceiving a mistake as a ‘failure’ highlighted to me that I was truly passionate about something, then I would continue to strive to improve myself and my work. It was hard to change my perspective, due to the negative emotions associated with these difficulties, but I found that an easier way to view setbacks was by viewing ourselves as Pokémon. At the first levels of Pokémon, you get to choose between three and one of these creatures accompanies you on your journey. Along the way, you get to take part in battles, some successful, some not. Despite the outcome, the player still gains something, whether this be experience or points to improve their skillset.
Whilst there was nothing inherently wrong with the original Pokémon, combining all of the past experiences, both wins and losses helps them evolve and become better, a model I feel is appropriate for us as humans. Moreover, setbacks can be transformed into motivators. Whilst frustrating, rejection can push you to become better in the future, highlighting weaker areas and also those that you are naturally stronger in. It acts as an important reminder that we are human and that whilst it would be nice, we cannot excel at everything. But that does not mean that we cannot try our best, and of course, try again. Although painful, facing setbacks and challenges are vital parts of our lives, and ignoring the many lessons that we can learn from them can only lead to these experiences being repeated. Taking rejection as a guide for improvement and allowing ourselves to evolve – like Pokémon – can ultimately be more beneficial in the long run. It is always important to give yourself time and space to process your emotions, and to always persevere.
Patricia Britto
Head Prefect
