A higher proportion of respondents aged between 10 and 19 revealed that their experiences of failure counted more than their successes, according to a territory-wide survey conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.  Teenagers were inclined to use "academic performance" as an indicator of success and failure.  It was also the main source of pride or failure.  One-fifth of the respondents said that failures in tests or exams hurt them most.  The largest number of respondents did not want to let their own parents know if they were facing failure.

         The survey also noted that the three situations that caused teenagers the most hurt were being wrongly accused, being betrayed, and being excluded.  The fourth was failures in tests or exams.  The findings indicated that being admitted or recognized were important for them.  With regard to the source of pressure in failure, the largest number of respondents said that pressure came from oneself, followed by parents and schools. 

         The survey showed that as many as 40 per cent of the respondents revealed that their experiences of failure meant more to them, a figure 10-points higher than those who claimed their experiences of success counted more, while one-third said "half and half".  

        30 per cent of the respondents said that to be a success meant having good academic results, while 25 per cent said it was a fulfillment of goals.  Another 15% saw a prosperous career as successful.  33% of respondents said that to be a failure meant having poor academic results, while 25% said it was an inability to achieve goals.  Another 8.4% saw that having no talents in any field was a failure.

     Slightly more than 40 per cent of the respondents said that they were proud of their own academic performance, and considered it a success.  Some 40 and 26 per cent of respondents appreciated that they had a harmonious family life or were good in sports.  With regard to failure, slightly more than 40 per cent of respondents found that their own poor academic performance had made them feel ashamed, and considered it a failure.  15 per cent of respondents felt bad because of a poor performance in sport activities or the lack of a harmonious family life.

In facing failure, more than 60 per cent of the respondents said that they most wanted to talk to their peer group, while only less than 50 per cent would turn to their own parents.  However, when asked to state whom they would keep their failure from, the largest number of respondents (38 per cent) answered parents.  Respondents gave an average mark of 6.2 points on a scale of 0-10 in rating their capabilities in encountering failure.  The largest number of respondents, however, gave themselves a pass mark of 5 points, indicating that the capability of respondents in encountering failure was not that strong.  

        The telephone poll, conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups from 11 to 14 October, successfully interviewed 503 teenagers aged between 10 and 19.  The survey noted that respondents generally had a positive attitude regarding various values on success or failure.  An overwhelming majority (90 per cent) of respondents believed the maxim that, "One who has ambition will succeed", while 85 per cent believed "Failure is the mother of success".  80 per cent of respondents believed the maxim that, "Heaven gives me talent that must be used".  Also 80 per cent of respondents said that their "own efforts" were more important than luck, with regard to one's success.

         What caught the attention was that some respondents had a negative attitude with regard to success or failure.  A respective 5 per cent of respondents said that they would not talk to anyone or let anyone know if they were facing failure. Also, some 5 per cent of respondents believed that luck was more important than own efforts in succeeding.  Around 10 per cent rebuffed the maxim that, "One who has ambition will succeed".  The figure increased to 15 per cent regarding the maxim, "Failure is the mother of success".  20 per cent of respondents denounced the maxim, "Heaven gives me talent that must be used".