Have you ever experienced a big setback?
As-salamu alaykum - I’m a 21f from Canada and just finished nursing school. A few months ago I was offered a really good job, which felt like a miracle for a new grad. I was so happy I told people about it. The on-the-job training was intense but I thought I was doing okay. My parents were proud - my dad even drove me two hours every day at 4am even though he was unwell. Then I failed one of the exams needed to continue. They told me I was lacking in several areas: my reaction time in emergencies was slower, I took longer to pick up some practical skills, and math was harder for me. As a new graduate I was up against more experienced trainees, and everyone else passed except me. I have autistic traits and I’m naturally very quiet, and I think that affected how they judged me. They failed me, and I can’t put into words how crushing that felt after making my parents so proud. Classmates keep asking how the job is going, but I’m ashamed to tell them I didn’t make it - I worry they’ll think less of me. This role felt like my way out of long-term financial struggle, and now I feel stuck and hopeless. My confidence is shattered; I feel like the only person who’s failed. I’m hoping to hear from others who’ve gone through something similar. I don’t enjoy most other nursing specialties because of my social challenges, and that job really seemed perfect for me. I’m considering doing a master’s in another field because I’m questioning whether nursing is right for me anymore. I don’t know what to do, especially after feeling like I disappointed my parents - we don’t have money to spare, so setbacks hit harder. Any advice, du’as, or people with similar experiences would mean a lot.