EMU Today

YPSILANTI — According to a survey conducted by the social network Linkagoal, 31% of respondents reported fear of failure - a percentage higher than that of respondents who reported fearing the paranormal, being home alone, and even spiders. “Enlighten U,” Eastern Michigan University’s mental health podcast for students, opened its season with a mission to make students more fearless.

September’s episode - the show’s first of the new school year - discusses what fear of failure is, what it looks like, how it impacts students, and what can be done to combat the dread many feel when thinking of potential failures. 

Resident mental health expert and assistant professor in EMU’s Department of Leadership and Counseling Aesha Mustafa, Ph.D., talks about the impact expectations can have on students, where a fear of failure may come from, how professors can help their students, and the idea of achieving success just by trying. 

“If you are not failing, you’re not growing,” Mustafa said.

Jahnavi Rambus, an EMU senior majoring in communication, media & theatre arts and minoring in public relations, joins the discussion to provide insight into his personal experience as a student who fears failure. Rambus also encourages students - and everyone else - to lean into fear instead of letting it hold them back.

“Sometimes, the things we fear the most can have the best outcomes,” Rambus said.

While fear of failure can be overwhelming, Mustafa and Rambus emphasize how we can overcome it. Rambus shares one of his strategies for managing fear: reminding ourselves that no one will remember our mistakes. Additionally, the two guests discuss how failure can help us grow by learning from mistakes. 

“It’s okay to fail sometimes as long as you can get up and be better next time,” Mustafa said.

Future episodes of “Enlighten U” will address facility animals, learning disabilities, adjustment to campus life, navigating the transition from high school to college, and more.

For more information, please contact Lolita Cummings at lcummin2@emich.edu or Melissa Thrasher at mthrashe@emich.edu. To submit a topic idea or to be a guest, please contact the show directly at Enlighten_U@emich.edu.

About “Enlighten U”
“Enlighten U” is an Eastern Michigan University-produced podcast for college students as they experience unique stressors, including academic pressures, personal growth, social challenges, and more. EMU executive director of media relations and social media Melissa Thrasher and EMU public relations professor Lolita Cummings serve as co-hosts. Each episode is released each month and welcomes a student or alum and a subject-matter professional. Episodes of “Enlighten U” address mental health topics like imposter syndrome, financial strain, grading anxiety, adjustment to campus life, social media harms, social justice, and more.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.