Life is full of clichés about getting over disappointments. “Everything happens for a reason.” “You live and you learn.” Blah, blah, blah. As much as we hate them, they are often the only things that get us through hard times. As college students, we will experience the mundane. There we will be times when we are so engulfed in happiness that we question our consciousness. But there will also be days of sadness, clouded by a sentiment of melancholy.

Being disappointed by people and situations will never be as painful as being disappointed in yourself. Perhaps this is because, as humans, we are often inclined to forgiving those around us, but never afford ourselves the luxury of being kind, considerate and forgiving to ourselves. By admitting that we let our own selves down, we are forced to face many of our demons; when done successfully one should walk away with a better understanding of not only one’s self, but the world around us.

I do not believe that fear of disappointment should ever stop one from delving into the unknown. As a self-proclaimed idealist, I often find myself throwing caution to the wind and thinking as little about the “what ifs” as possible. It isn’t until I fall flat on my face that reality becomes a factor. I am constantly shuffling between an aspiring pragmatist and accepting myself for the ridiculously quixotic person that I am.

Fear is a response that was bestowed upon us by the oh-so-great Mother Nature as a survival tactic; fear kept us safe. Operating in a way that prevents you from encountering disappointment is not only boring but will more than likely be unsuccessful. Your decision to come to NC State was a risk — one that I pray has been far more rewarding for you than anything else. For some of us, the risk was even greater.

Eliza Tabor, a writer from the late 1800s once said, “Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.” Whether you are a hard fatalist and believe that we have no control over the things that happen to us, or whether you operate on the belief that we have perfect free will, find peace in your beliefs and allow them to get you through the hard times.

Encountering disappointments means that you are living. With that being said, it may be worthwhile to reevaluate relationships and situations that result in more disappointments than anything else. But remember that every now and then, someone or something will let you down, and sometimes that person may be you. But failures and mistakes are just another chance to get things right. Don’t stay down for too long.