The GIFT of Mistakes. Yes, GIFT.

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Why Getting It Wrong Might Be the Best Thing Teens Can Do

By Deb Rooney, M.Ed.

“Mistakes are proof you’ve got skin in the game.”

Yet for many teens today, the idea of being wrong feels like failure — when in truth, it’s a necessary part of success.

Let’s be honest: no one enjoys making mistakes — I certainly don’t. But some of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned, and some of the strongest confidence I’ve ever gained, came directly from getting things wrong.

That’s why I worry about how afraid teens have become of making mistakes. Not just unsure — afraid.

The Fear of Mistakes Is Holding Teens Back

I see it all the time. Students answer in whispers, as if lowering their voice will somehow make the answer safer. Others scan my face for approval, hoping they guessed the “right” response. Too often, many hold back from sharing their opinions at all — as if their voices don’t matter.

But really, who can blame them?

They're growing up in a world shaped by social media, where perfection is filtered, rewarded, and expected. One misstep can be screenshotted, shared, and judged. Risk-taking is discouraged. Uncertainty is something to hide, not explore.

In this environment, many teens are being taught to fear mistakes — not to learn from them.

They’re not being given the space, or the tools, to try, to stumble, and most importantly, to get back up again.

Mistakes Aren’t Failures — They’re Gifts

We shouldn’t protect teens from every mistake. Instead, we should guide them through the process. Help them reflect. Let them feel the sting, but also the strength that comes afterward. That’s where self-confidence and resilience are built.

And here’s the amazing part: once teens understand that mistakes are not the end of the road — but part of the path forward — the fear starts to fade. And that’s when something powerful happens: they begin to dream bigger, try harder, and show up more fully.

Because the truth is, mistakes offer some of life’s greatest gifts. They teach courage, clarity, and character.

I just wish more teens understood this — because the moment they do, they unlock the confidence to grow into everything they’re meant to be.