On Failure: Dr. Henry Bleattler

Academic failure does not have to be the end of the story. Perhaps it’s only the beginning of a bigger story God has for you to discover.

Doing anything difficult will risk some degree of failure. Being a student and a scholar, as you are at King’s, is no exception. In the life of a student, you try one approach to studying at a time and learn as you go about what works. You go through times when you’re motivated and times when you’re not, and you figure out how to get back on track. The academic life of a student is multi-faceted in itself, but other parts of life can also influence your learning and performance in coursework.

Yet despite the inevitable nature of risk in the academic journey, you can approach your life as a student with confidence because you are not alone. Both your peers and your professors have had similar experiences.

This week we’re featuring stories “on failure” from three of our esteemed faculty at King’s. First up is Dr. Henry Bleattler, whose academic journey had some twists and turns you may not expect. Telling us about part of that journey, he highlights how to come back from an academic failure and how to see the larger meaning behind it.

Dr. Henry Bleattler is the Program Chair for Media, Culture, and the Arts and Associate Professor of History and Humanities. Dr. Bleattler has taught at King’s since 2004 and designed the Summer Study Abroad program which has taken students to study with King’s professors in Paris, Vienna, and Berlin. Dr. Bleattler can be reached at hbleattler@tkc.edu.