In this week’s episode, Callie talks all about academic validation! She explains that it’s a tricky subject; academic validation itself can either help you are harm you academically. It can make you more competitive, thinking that your success is tied to others’ failure, and that that will make you feel better. While other failures might make you feel better, it won’t fulfill you. Academic success will always be an internal thing, and that we should move away from tying it to validating our self worth in order to actually be successful. However, failure and burn out can be necessary to our success, as it can force us to rethink our approach to success and how we attack our goals. It can clarify what we really need and want for ourselves, and make us see what is actually important for us to succeed in academics.