As autumn leaves start falling and the air begins to change, there is only one thing I can think about: Gilmore Girls. This quintessential cult classic show not only offers witty banter and a feel-good vibe, it also offers some insight into the real life struggles of growing older.
(For those who have not seen Gilmore Girls, or are watching it now for the first time, spoilers are ahead!)
Rory Gilmore, the protagonist, is the classic embodiment of a highly gifted child: intelligent, driven, bound for an Ivy League, and full of potential. She is told her whole life that she possesses an immense amount of talent and is on her way to becoming a remarkably successful journalist.
And then – that does not happen.
The truth is, as Rory learns, for someone with so much ambition and drive, she lacks one of the most important abilities needed to succeed in one’s chosen career: the courage to fail.
Rory eventually experiences a downfall of her potential when she is told that she is not good enough for her chosen career path and will not succeed in journalism. Devastated, she ultimately makes the decision to leave everything that was once nearest to her heart –school, her mother, and her important relationships.
Therein lies her problem; she is told that she is not good enough to fulfill her dreams, and takes great offense to it, because she has never before heard that about herself.
This one comment influenced the rest of her career trajectory, as she ends up in the series sequel becoming jobless and returning to her hometown.
And so, what can one learn from Rory Gilmore?
The concept of failing is daunting, especially considering school or career, but one failure does not necessarily determine the outcome of a person’s life.
Criticism and failure are parts of growth – they do not entail that one’s career or life trajectory will be forever altered. Learning to take setbacks as gifts, rather than threats, is one of the most valuable lessons that people who are just beginning their careers or still within them will learn to appreciate. Instead of retreating from a challenge, try to keep perspective oriented on the bigger picture: that this moment of hardship, and potentially self-doubt, is a new opportunity to learn about yourself, your motivations, and your path to the future.