NORTHAMPTON — Failure is not a single moment, and overcoming it requires having multiple skills.
That’s just one of the ideas behind Smith College’s “Failing Well” programs led by Rachel Simmons, leadership development specialist at Smith College.
The programs, which include numerous discussions, panels and events, focus on helping students learn the skills needed to overcome failure and lower their personal expectations.
“Students think they need to push harder, but actually when they ease up on themselves, they are more comfortable taking healthy risks,” Simmons said.
The programs, part of the Wurtele Center for Work and Life, are open to any students from the five colleges. This year’s theme is “Resilience Through Connection” and will focus on teaching students how to connect with each other.
Students tend to be lonelier than other groups of people, Simmons said. When students don’t connect with each other, it diminishes wellness.
“Coming into college, students have a certain competitiveness that erodes relationships,” Simmons said. “They will be a series of programs focusing on friendship, loneliness and conflict.”
Two programs are already set for this fall. “Leadership for Rebels: A Recipe for Courage and Personal Authority” will take place every Monday starting Sept. 11 and ending Oct. 2 and will give students tools for self-awareness, clear communication and conflict negotiation. “The Art of Small Talk” is set to take place Oct. 25 at 4:15 p.m. and will teach students how-to techniques for effective small talk.
Simmons said she focuses on three components when she thinks of the events: educating people on what research says about failure, introducing the skills to handle failure and practicing those skills.
Simmons said she hopes students are able to walk away knowing they are not the only ones who fail or worry about failing.
“There’s a belief that they are the only ones going through it, but everyone’s going through it,” Simmons said.
Simmons has worked with students to create the programs. Last year, she went to the different residence halls at Smith College and drank tea with students, asking them what types of programs best suit them.
“I do everything with the support of students,” Simmons said. “They can tell me best about what they truly need.”
Simmons and others who work with the programs urge students to take more healthy risks and explore things outside of academics.
“Many students come to Smith from often high-achieving high schools,” said Jessica Bacal, director of Wurtele Center for Work and Life. “There’s this sense that failure is not allowed.”
Bacal said the college admissions process has become increasingly more stressful. Because of that, many students who come to Smith focus mostly on being a well-rounded academic.
That doesn’t leave a lot of place for exploring, Bacal said. Students should be able to take new classes or try out new clubs.
“Students should take risks and explore new disciplines and try new experiences,” Bacal said. “We want students to feel more comfortable taking healthy risks.”
Bacal said she hopes the programs can bring a silliness and joy to conversations about pressure. It’s OK to not be serious all the time.
“Failure is not the end of the world,” Bacal said.