when you feel like a failure
The story
honestly, idk how i even got here. i remember bein little and my parents tellin everyone how great i was gonna be, how i was the future star, how i was totally gonna make it big and get a scholarship for sports. they always said it so proud, u kno? like they just KNEW i was gonna be somebody special. i used to believe em too, cuz like why wouldn't i? theyre my parents, right? they always seemed to know everythin. but now im 17, bout to finish highschool and the truth is i aint good enough. like i tried, i swear i tried so hard, practice every single day, pushin myself, stayin late after practice when everyone else left, but i never got faster, never got stronger, never became the athlete everyone thought id become. now the letters from colleges never came. the scouts stopped comin to the games. and its like i let everyone down so hard that i cant even look em in the eye anymore.
my parents are straight up mean now. its like since they realized im not gonna get that scholarship, im worthless. they barely talk to me anymore, unless its to yell at me or remind me how much time and money they "wasted" on me. i mean, i kno they did sacrifice a lot, im not stupid, i kno that equipment and travel and camps cost money and they spent so much on me, but like… idk man, was that the only reason they cared? did they just want some kinda trophy kid they could brag about to their friends? cuz now its like theyre ashamed of me or sumthin. dinner at our house is silent. if i try talkin, they either ignore me or give me short answers. my dad used to come to every game, now he acts like its a burden to even look at me. my mom cries sometimes but not like she sad for me, more like shes embarrassed of me. its like im not their kid anymore, just some failure that lives under their roof.
the worst part is that i actually started believin them. like when they first started sayin stuff like how im lazy or not tryin hard enough, i fought back, i argued, told em i was doin my best. but now im thinkin maybe theyre right. maybe i didnt push myself as hard as i couldve. maybe if id stayed longer, ran faster, lifted more weights, maybe id actually be worth somethin. the coaches stopped givin me special attention cuz i wasnt improvin like other guys on the team. my teammates still cool to me, but i feel like they pity me or sumthin, like im the guy who almost made it but didnt. i feel like everyone looks at me differently now. im not that guy everyone cheered for, im the guy they feel sorry for, the guy who couldnt deliver. the guy who let everyone down. honestly, it hurts more than anything else cuz i used to be so confident. i used to walk on the field thinkin i was gonna show everyone how great i was. now, i walk on the field wishin i could just disappear.
every day now feels heavy. like i wake up and dread havin to go downstairs and see the disappointment on my parents faces again. i dread goin to school cuz ppl still ask bout college and scholarships and i gotta keep makin up excuses why i didnt get one yet. some days i just wanna quit everythin and hide in my room forever. my grades slipped too cuz i spent all my time tryna be a better athlete instead of studyin, thinkin sports was gonna carry me. now i dont got good grades, i dont got a scholarship, and i feel stuck. like my whole future just vanished and i got nowhere to go. its scary, man. i had it all planned out. everyone else had it planned out for me too. now im just floatin around wonderin what im supposed to do next.
i kno ppl say life aint over at 17, that theres more out there, more opportunities or whatever. but its hard to believe that right now. its hard to feel hopeful when ur own parents look at u like ur their biggest mistake. i never wanted to disappoint anyone, especially not them. they always told me sports was gonna be my ticket to a better life. now i got no ticket, just a bunch of broken dreams. i wanna believe it gets better, i wanna believe someday theyll forgive me for not bein who they wanted me to be, and that ill forgive myself for not bein who i thought id become. but right now, i just feel like a total failure. i guess all i can do is hope someday i stop feelin this way, cuz honestly it sucks, and i wish i knew how to fix it.
Stories in the same category
Points of view
Hey there! First off, I just wanna say you're really brave for sharing your story. It’s obvious you’ve been through a lot, and I truly empathize with your situation.💪 You've given it your all, and it certainly feels overwhelming when things don't go as planned.
It’s vital to realize that life is more than just meeting other's expectations, right? You have unique strengths and potential!!!🌟 Sometimes, paths shift and what seems like an end is just a new beginning. Who knows what amazing opportunities are waiting for you?!?!
It's tough dealing with family pressure, but remember that their current reaction doesn't define your success or value. S**t happens, but you’re not alone in this journey. Keep your head up and remain hopeful. Better days are ahead!!! Keep doing you!!!💪✨
I completely understand where you're coming from. It’s tough when you invest so much energy into athletic pursuits and don't see the results everyone expected. I've seen friends go through similar situations, where the pressure from family and the sports community is just too intense. It can feel like the whole world is watching and judging your every move.
I’ve often thought about how much we rely on external validation, especially in sports, where performance metrics are everything. The truth is, the system doesn’t always value personal growth and effort the way it should. It’s easy to start doubting yourself and feel like a failure, but remember, it's not necessarily a reflection of your future potential.
I've been in situations where I've felt stuck too, and it's not easy navigating those emotions. Just take it one day at a time. Finding a new direction might be challenging, but it's definitely achievable. Hang in there, you’re not alone.
Hey there, I just wanna say that your story really hit home for me. Honestly, it sounds like you’re experiencing an insane amount of pressure and it's completely normal to feel overwhelmed by it all. The athletic industry often sets these high expectations, making everyone think that it's easy to just hit benchmarks or break through barriers if you just "work hard enough." But, the truth is, sometimes things don't go as planned even if you're giving 110%, and that’s not a reflection of your worth or ability.
It's incredibly tough when the people we expect to be our biggest supporters start acting like critics instead. I totally get that feeling of trying to meet those expectations only to feel like you're falling short, but remember, they were expectations set by others, not necessarily your own aspirations.
It’s so important to recognize that your identity isn’t solely defined by athletic success or a scholarship offer. Life throws curveballs and can pivot in unexpected ways, which can open doors to new paths that maybe you hadn't considered before.
I hope you keep your chin up and give yourself some grace. You're not a failure by any means—you’re at a crossroads, and there's still so much time to shape your path, whether it involves sports or something else entirely. Hang in there!
Hey, I totally hear you, but I gotta say, maybe you're being a bit hard on yourself. From what I see, you tried your best, and sometimes things just don’t pan out as expected; Life's full of ups and downs, and honestly, that's part of the journey.
I remember when I was in high school, I put everything into basketball, thinking it was my ticket to the future. But life has a way of surprising us. “When one door closes, another opens,” they say, and it’s true. I ended up finding a passion in something completely different, and it turned out great.
Your parents might be tough right now, but I bet they’ll come around. Just keep your head up, stay open to new possibilities, and remember, this isn't the end of your story. You've got so much more ahead of you! 🤞
Thank you for sharing your story; it takes immense courage to open up about such personal experiences. I completely empathize with your feelings and agree with your perspective. The intense pressure in athletic environments can be overwhelming, particularly when expectations are set so high by those around us. It is common for family to express disappointment when things don't align with their aspirations, but this is not a reflection of your worth or your potential.
As you navigate these challenging emotions, it's important to remember that the path to success is not always linear. During my youth, I too faced a period where my efforts in achieving sports excellence did not yield the expected results. I was initially discouraged, yet I discovered that my true talents lay in other areas that brought me joy and fulfillment; it was a necessary detour that revealed unexpected opportunities.
Your narrative highlights the need for self-compassion and understanding. Embrace this moment as a stepping stone rather than a culmination of your journey. Have faith in your capacity to forge new paths and explore different interests. There is immense potential within you, and this chapter, albeit challenging, is just one part of your broader story. I am confident that you will emerge stronger and more resilient.
it's tough when you’ve been aiming for something so big and it doesn’t pan out the way everyone expected. I mostly agree with your perspective, the pressure in sports can be intense, and it’s not just about raw talent. "It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it," right?
back in high school, I had a similar experience with academics. everyone expected me to be top of the class and get into a prestigious college. when things didn't go as planned, I felt like I'd let everyone down. what I learned was that success isn't defined by others’ expectations or conventional milestones.
sometimes, these experiences are just a detour leading us to something different yet fulfilling. it's cool to give yourself some credit for the effort you put in. you're on a path, even if it looks different from what you first imagined. keep your mind open to new possibilities and know that this isn’t the end of your journey. you've got this!
hey, I appreciate you sharing your story. honestly, I think maybe you’re being too hard on yourself. the world of sports is full of unexpected twists, and it’s not always about reaching the pinnacle of success. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."
people sometimes focus too much on specific achievements like scholarships, but there is so much more to life. your value isn’t measured by athletic accomplishments alone. perhaps this is an opportunity to explore other interests or pursuits that might bring you fulfillment. keep pushing forward and staying open-minded; there’s a lot you can achieve in different avenues...