When you grow up in an environment where the odds are stacked against you, sometimes you really do only have one shot to transcend your circumstances. So what happens when you blow it?

Meet Dr. Barbara Hong, the Dean of University College at Texas A&M. Raised in a sweatshop, surrounded by poverty, and living with an illiterate family, Dr. Hong only had one route to escape the life she was born into: education. She recounts the pivotal moment when fear threatened to sabotage her future, leading her to miss a crucial placement exam.

But through a remarkable turnaround, Dr. Hong found the strength to repeat a year, despite the ridicule and self-doubt of her teachers and peers. Her remarkable story underscores the transformative potential of education and the boundless possibilities that open up when you believe in yourself — even if nobody else does. Because there’s no shame in a Faceplant.