Essay (Is it best to forget about past mistakes as soon as possible?)

Mr. Moon

In-Class Writing (SAT Style)

안태형 121065

Topic: Is it best to forget about past mistakes as soon as possible?

Mistake is the mother of success. This saying is used so often all around the world that it is considered almost as a cliché. However, a cliché is not necessarily false or unreliable. In fact, people actually do learn a great deal from their past mistakes. By making some mistakes, people get to actually experience and learn things first handedly. Also, countless mistakes get accumulated and eventually pay off at the end. Although the past mistakes can be hurting and painful to recall, people should not just forget them as soon as possible and try to move on with their lives without gaining anything from their past mistakes. They should try to learn from their mistakes and try not to make the same mistakes over again.

There is nothing better than the first-hand experience in acquiring knowledge and learning to do new things. When teaching young children about something new, the teachers make them participate in fun activities, because children learn the fastest when they are actually doing something by themselves. The reason why new education methods that emphasize first-hand experiences are rising is due to its effectiveness and long lasting quality. When making mistakes, people are naturally participating in first-hand activities, which would provide them with efficient and long lasting experiences. By gaining these experiences, people become able to learn and remember new things through the past mistakes they have made.

Number of mistakes made, when someone tries to do something new or innovative, represents the amount of effort he or she put in. Thomas Edison, who invented the light bulb, is a very good exemplary figure for learning and growing by overcoming the countless mistakes he made during his experimentations. He once quoted “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb in his first try. He was able to invent the light bulb due to the countless mistakes he made, accumulated together as a great deal of experience and his characteristic of being persistent and non-yielding.

Making mistakes is not and should not be considered as an embarrassing thing. Everybody makes mistakes and people have evolved and developed by overcoming their mistakes. The history also proves that mistakes allowed our would to be brightened by light bulbs, so rather than trying to just forget about the mistakes you make, it is better to try to face your mistakes and learn from them.