What Failing my Math state Exam 3 times Taught me About Entrepreneurship

I’ll never forget the feeling of opening my math regents results and seeing that I failed—again. Not once, not twice, but three times. In high school, math was my Goliath. It seemed like no matter how hard I tried, it just wouldn’t click. I had to take night classes three years in a row just to have a chance at graduating on time with my peers. It was embarrassing. Frustrating. Defeating. But looking back now, that experience taught me one of the most powerful lessons I carry with me today as an entrepreneur: failure is not the end.

If anything, it was the beginning.

When Math Felt Like a Mountain

Math and I were not friends in high school. I genuinely tried. I studied. I asked questions. I did extra homework. But every time I sat for that state regents exam, it felt like I was climbing a mountain with no gear, slipping further down each time.

I remember the sting of disappointment in my chest, the way my stomach dropped when I saw my failing grade. Again. There were nights I cried quietly because I felt like I wasn’t good enough. But despite the failure, there was a fire in me that wouldn’t go out. I knew I wanted to graduate with my peers—I didn’t want to be labeled a “super senior.” I refused.

That refusal to settle would later become one of my biggest entrepreneurial assets.

The Power of Patience and Support

I had a math teacher during those night classes who was a gentle light during those dark seasons. She was incredibly patient and kind. After each evening session, she would stay an extra 30 minutes just to help me go over the exact same problems we had just reviewed in class. Over and over again, she would explain until I understood.

She never made me feel dumb. She just kept showing up—and that consistency meant the world to me. What she taught me, more than math itself, was the power of guidance, patience, and mentorship. And now, as an entrepreneur, I try to carry that same energy into how I serve others and build relationships. People need support. People need patience. People need someone who won’t give up on them—even when they’re ready to give up on themselves.

My Dad’s Wisdom: Health and Rest Matter

My father played a big role in this story too. He valued education, but he also believed in health. He would always tell me, “Get your rest. Eat well. Take care of yourself.” To him, 8 hours of sleep and a healthy diet were just as important as solving for X.

But I was stubborn. I’d stay up late into the night trying to complete my math homework, pushing through exhaustion, ignoring his gentle reminders. I didn’t want to fail again. I didn’t want to be left behind. I was on a mission.

Looking back, I realize he was teaching me about sustainable success. In entrepreneurship, burnout is real. We glorify hustle culture, but my dad was trying to teach me that you can work hard without destroying yourself. Now, I try to balance hustle with health—because you can’t pour from an empty cup, whether you’re solving equations or building a business.

What Failing Math Taught Me About Entrepreneurship

Most people wouldn’t connect failing math to becoming an entrepreneur, but here’s what I learned:

1. 

Failure Isn’t the End—It’s Feedback

Failing three times didn’t break me. It bent me, sure. But it taught me that failure is not final—it’s feedback. It’s a lesson. In business, you will fail. You’ll launch something and no one will buy. You’ll pitch to people who say no. You’ll make the wrong decision. But each failure is a stepping stone, not a stopping point.

2. 

Growth Happens Under Pressure

Those regents exams felt like pressure cookers. But pressure creates diamonds. I had to grow. I had to think differently. I had to find ways to keep moving, even when I was discouraged. Now, when I face hard seasons in business, I remind myself—I’ve faced this kind of pressure before, and I didn’t fold. I became better.

3. 

Be Stubborn—In a Good Way

There’s a kind of stubbornness that holds you back—but there’s also a kind that pushes you forward. I had to be stubborn to keep trying, to keep showing up for night class, to ignore the label of “failure” and chase my goal anyway. Today, I hold that same stubbornness for my vision. I don’t let people’s doubts or delays make me give up. I’m anchored. I’m focused. I’m unshakable when it comes to where I’m going.

4. 

Support Systems Matter

Without my teacher’s patience or my dad’s encouragement, I’m not sure I would’ve kept going. In entrepreneurship, you need community. You need mentors. You need people who remind you who you are and what you’re capable of. Don’t try to do it all alone.

5. 

Your Story Is Your Superpower

I used to be ashamed of failing math. Now I see it as one of the most defining parts of my journey. It made me resilient. It made me resourceful. It gave me a testimony. That struggle gave me strength—and it gave me a story that connects with others.

Final Thoughts: I Graduated On Time—and So Much More

Despite the setbacks, I graduated on time with my peers. Not because I was the smartest, but because I was determined. I didn’t want to be a super senior, and I didn’t let failure stop me. That same mindset is what fuels my entrepreneurship journey today.

Entrepreneurship will test you. It will challenge your confidence, your consistency, and your commitment. But if you’re willing to learn from failure, lean on your support system, and hold on tightly to your vision, you’ll rise.

So to anyone who’s failed before—whether it’s an exam, a business, a pitch, or a goal—know this: failure isn’t your finish line. It might just be your starting point.

Just like it was for me.