I struggle horribly as a student. So I rebuilt the class. Here’s how.

Cycling in the rain is never fun. But that day I didn’t care one bit. My destination was a standup comedy venue, for the first in a series of six classes. I’d been looking forward to it for a while. It might have been pouring outside, but my inner forecast was sunny, no showers.

Yet when I walked out back outside a few hours later, dark clouds had gathered.

I felt a desperate sense of shame, frustration, and sadness. I was wiped out. Drained. Despairing. My self-esteem hovered near zero…