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14. The other F word: Re-storying student failure in Canadian Higher Education

  • Victoria Fritz (author)
Chapter of: Stories of Hope: Reimagining Education(pp. 173–182)

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Metadata
Title14. The other F word
SubtitleRe-storying student failure in Canadian Higher Education
ContributorVictoria Fritz (author)
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0462.14
Landing pagehttps://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0462/chapters/10.11647/obp.0462.14
Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
CopyrightVictoria A. Fritz;
PublisherOpen Book Publishers
Published on2025-07-02
Long abstractAcademic failure is a complex yet common experience, often framed in research through models of prediction and prevention. However, these approaches frequently overlook the lived realities and voices of students themselves. This chapter offers a personal essay that foregrounds the student perspective, drawing on the author’s experiences as both a learner and a Learning Specialist. Integrating insights from the author’s doctoral research, the chapter reflects on the emotional, social, and academic dimensions of failure. It argues that while failure is often difficult to talk about, it holds critical value for understanding learning, resilience, and growth. By bringing personal narrative into dialogue with academic inquiry, the chapter invites a more compassionate and human-centred approach to addressing failure in Higher Education.
Page rangepp. 173–182
Print length10 pages
LanguageEnglish (Original)
Contributors

Victoria Fritz

(author)
Learning Specialist at University of Guelph

Victoria Fritz (she/her) is a Learning Specialist at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. She helps to support students with all things academic, from time management and goal setting to presentations and effective academic communication. Victoria also completed her PhD in Family Relations and Human Development exploring student stories of academic failure. Her current research interests include: how students construct and experience failure, how failure is storied in individual’s lives, as well as the intersection of wellbeing and academic success. Victoria is also a Registered Social Worker and has a passion for supporting and encouraging wellbeing, acceptance/tolerance of failure, and mindfulness in everyday life.

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