The greatest teacher, failure is.

So you started at SCA two weeks ago. And boy, hasn’t it been challenging. You’ve already managed to piss off a bunch of other students in group work, your computer went into a coma without an explanation the night before a double deadline, you’ve unintentionally dissed Rosie Arnold, actually missed a mini deadline (to find some quotes for a group list for a kinetic type project); mumbled some incoherent nonsense about loving Ghost in the Shell to Mike Nicholson. Plus… you’ve had to find time for a full-time job, a toddler at pre-school age, and a pregnant partner – baby is due in two weeks. Don’t drop any of those spinning plates, buddy. And at the back of your mind is a voice telling you ‘You’re shit, you’re old, you don’t belong here –

And you’re ugly.

Who said that?

I’m the voice at the back of your mind telling you ‘You’re shit, you’re old, you don’t belong here with all these beautiful, young talented people. And you’re ugly. And dude, what was that guff about Ghost in the Shell?

I really like the film, I think it’s massively underrated and unfairly judged –

I don’t really care. You should feel bad that you missed that deadline though.

I do, but it was only the first bit of the project – 

A deadline’s a deadline pal. And yeah you should feel bad because… Black People.

What does that even mean?

Well you’re Black, it’s Black History Month – those quotes and that project should be important to you. 

They are, it is – I chose a meaningful quote to animate from the list… Why am I even explaining this? And by proxy aren’t you Black too? 

Well, technically I’m a disembodied voice in your head… I identify more as an AI.

That’s crazy.

Says the guy who’s having a conversation with a disembodied voice in his head.

Touché.

Do you want a bit of advice? 

Not really, but I’m sure you’re going to give it to me anyway.

Failure is the best teacher.

Isn’t that from Star Wars?

I think it was Gandhi.

I’m pretty sure it was Yoda. His syntax was a bit different though.

Doesn’t make it any less true though. And if failure’s the best teacher, you should be learning a lot this year then, loser.

Fucking hell, you don’t let up do you? 

You’re going to have to discover a sense of humour or you won’t get through this course. And in the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger – quit whining. Which Black People quote did you choose?

You know which one I chose.

I know, I know, but I think it would be a classy way to wrap up this inane SCAB…

Okay I see what you’ve done there. The quote I chose was by Malcolm X.

“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time.“