Emily Bardwell: Turning Knowledge into Power

Leaving high school, I felt unstoppable. Armed with achievements, I entered MSU's campus with visions of effortlessly conquering any challenge that came my way. I believed excelling academically was the key to a successful career—get good grades and everything else would fall into place. After all, they say knowledge is power…right? Little did I know, this mindset was setting me up for a humbling reality check.

College, unlike high school, introduced an entirely new level of pressure. As I immersed myself in rigorous coursework, research, athletics, and campus activities, the weight of unrealistic expectations began to crush my confidence. Minor setbacks, like forgetting assignments or missing steps in lab procedures, fueled self-doubt. I started to question my abilities, wondering how I could possibly tackle global conservation issues if I couldn't even handle everyday responsibilities.

With each painful mistake, it became clear to me that there was no perfect path to success. Success isn't just about acquiring knowledge and accolades; it's about developing a resilient mindset. My fixation on flawless performance initially blinded me to the transformative power of setbacks, but throughout college, I have come to understand that growth stems from embracing mistakes as opportunities for improvement.

Tackling real-world problems demands more than just textbook knowledge. It requires creativity, adaptability, and the courage to learn from missteps. Just as muscles grow stronger after breaking down and recovering from exercise, we too strengthen by confronting and overcoming our failures.

Building these skills begins by seeking out uncomfortable situations where success isn't guaranteed, and then using these experiences to learn and grow from our shortcomings. For me, this process was evident during my undergraduate research project. Without strict guidelines, I had to figure things out while collaborating with others. Thinking critically about research procedures and lab protocols proved challenging, and I've encountered numerous setbacks along the way. Even now, after spending over a year in the lab, I continue to make mistakes. But each misstep, though irritating, serves as an opportunity for introspection and growth, shaping me into a more resilient individual along the way.

With numerous opportunities to collaborate and share my experiences with others, the Dean’s Research Scholars Program has provided a supportive space for me to grow from mistakes and challenge my mindset. Throughout this program, I have learned to view success as a dynamic process, not a static achievement.

In short, true success is not measured by what you know or achieve—it's about your ability to adapt, innovate, and persevere through adversity. So, no, knowledge alone is not power. While we use knowledge to navigate uncertainty, true power lies in embracing failure with humility. By learning these lessons, we pave the way for transformative growth and readiness to confront the world's complex issues.