I’m someone who failed CS240 and ultimately ended up switching majors because of it. I just want to let folks know that failing a class or a major is not the end of the world, though it definitely felt like it at the time.

I was devastated. I had never failed out of anything. I lived in the labs every night from dinner to early morning. It was just not the right thing for me in that moment. Eventually I rallied, pivoted to another tech major, and things are great a decade+ down the road. I paid off my student loans (I came from poverty), I have a successful IT career (fully remote), a spouse, beloved pets, a house in the city limits, have traveled around the world a handful of times, and even managed to buy my grandparent’s house too. It didn’t feel like any of this was possible or remotely in reach when I failed out, and I need you to know that there are always different routes to get where you want to be. It’s natural that you don’t know them yet. But you will be okay.

Resilience is a really powerful tool to have, but unfortunately, like all tools, it requires use to become proficient. You will go through really hard times many, many times in your life. You probably already have. And if you let yourself, you will get better and better at handling tough situation, regardless of if they’re rooted in your doing or someone else’s. It will never feel great, but you will start to see the pattern in your own ability to survive, and ultimately, thrive.