Jonathan Misura Encourages Students to Embrace Failure as a Tool for Growth

Yahoo

19-05-2025

The ESU Athlete and Exercise Science Major Advocates for a Healthier Mindset Around Mistakes, Discipline, and Long-Term Success
MILLTOWN, NJ / / May 19, 2025 / As pressure mounts on young people to perform at their best in school, sports, and social media, East Stroudsburg University student-athlete Jonathan Misura is urging his peers to reframe the way they see failure-not as a weakness, but as a step toward progress.
"You're going to fail," Misura says. "What matters is what you do with it."
At just 18 years old, the Milltown, New Jersey native is already speaking with the clarity of someone who's been tested-on the mound and in life. As a high school pitcher, Misura once walked three straight batters in front of scouts. That game changed everything.
"I was trying to be perfect," he recalls. "But my coach told me, 'You're not a robot. You're a pitcher. You solve problems pitch by pitch.' I still carry that with me."
Why This Message Matters Now
Recent data from the American Psychological Association shows that over 90% of Gen Z students report experiencing academic stress, while 1 in 3 student-athletes say fear of failure affects their performance.
This fear can cause burnout, anxiety, and avoidance-particularly in young athletes who tie their identity to stats and visibility. Misura believes shifting the focus to learning through failure can create healthier outcomes.
"I journal every night-just quick notes on what went well and what didn't," he says. "It's not about being hard on yourself. It's about being honest and improving slowly."
Lessons from Redshirting: When Not Playing Is the Right Move
In Fall 2024, Misura made the decision to redshirt his freshman year with the ESU baseball program. While many would see that as a lost opportunity, he saw it as an investment in his future-giving his body time to recover, and his mind time to adjust.
"I had some soreness in my shoulder, and I didn't want to rush it," he explains. "It gave me time to get stronger and smarter."
He calls it one of the most valuable decisions he's made.
"I learned more from sitting and watching than I ever thought I would. It taught me patience and how to be a better teammate."
Success Without Spotlight
Misura, who is majoring in Exercise Science, hopes to use his education to help others-possibly as a trainer or coach. His own training schedule is intense: six days a week, while managing a full class load. But he doesn't measure success by headlines.
"Success is just doing what you said you would," he says. "If I stick to my plan-academics, training, mindset-that's enough."
Redefine Failure on Your Own Terms
Jonathan isn't asking others to redshirt or journal. Instead, he's asking students and athletes to rethink how they see failure and adopt healthier daily habits that build long-term success.
What You Can Do:
Reflect each day on what worked and what didn't-without judgment
Allow time for rest, recovery, and perspective
Understand that failure is feedback, not a final outcome
Set your own standards of success-based on effort, not comparison
Support others when they stumble, not just when they shine
"Stop chasing someone else's version of success," Jonathan says. "Yours might look quieter-and that's okay."
About Jonathan Misura
Jonathan Misura is a redshirt freshman pitcher at East Stroudsburg University and an Exercise Science major. He was a 2024 New Jersey State Champion with a 1.17 ERA at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Outside of baseball, he enjoys deep-sea diving, snowboarding, and fishing. He is passionate about mindset, physical health, and helping others succeed on their own terms.
Media Contact
Jonathan [e-mail]://www.jonathanmisuraathlete.com/
SOURCE: Jonathan Misura
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