You Win Some, You Lose Some

I just found out today that I passed my Macro prelim! Unfortunately, I am ashamed to say, I also found out a few days ago that I did not pass my Micro prelim. I cannot describe the joy I felt at passing the one, or the sorrow of not having passed the other.

My results are a bit ironic because I did much better in my Micro classes than I did in my Macro classes last year. That probably contributed to my outcome. I studied Macro at the expense of Micro this summer and my scores suffered as a result.

Today’s news comes as an incredibly welcome relief. After last week’s terrible news, I had started having horrific thoughts of failing the Macro prelim as well. I was afraid of this picture becoming my tale of trying to earn a PhD:



After getting over my initial shock last week, I became resolved to not let this get me down or deter me from my goal of getting my PhD. I have certainly lost one battle, but not the war. I will have to take the Micro prelim again in January, but am already strategizing for how to better prepare for it this time.

I was talking to a friend of mine in Orlando last Thursday and told him how I always try to encourage others to keep their chin up when the chips look down and am a huge fan of the idea of “failing forward”. I said that with my Micro prelim, it’s now time for me to take my own medicine. While sincerely believing all of this, I still found that it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Having had a few days to reflect on all of this and, particularly with the good news about Macro today, I am now ready to use this experience as the launch pad for making sure my story is not one of being the guy who served as a warning to others, but instead to make mine the tale of the “comeback kid”.

Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers as I’ve gone through all of this. I will be asking for your continued support again in January.