Andrew and Fletcher in Whiplash

 What makes people settle for less while they were initially ambitious?

There can be a variety of factors that cause people to settle for less than their initial ambitions. Here is one: 

Fear of Failure

   Meet Andrew  (who is accepted into a prestigious music conservatory)

 and Terence Fletcher ( most notorious and demanding conductor )

From the very first rehearsal, Andrew realizes that Fletcher's approach to teaching is brutal and unforgiving, as he pushes his students to their absolute limits and beyond.


Andrew is consumed by his fear of failure and driven to succeed at all costs, even if it means sacrificing his physical and mental health. He spends countless hours practicing and rehearsing, obsessively trying to perfect his craft in order to win the approval of Fletcher

Despite his efforts, Andrew is constantly berated and belittled by Fletcher, who is never satisfied with his performance.

Andrew's fear of failure grows stronger and stronger as the pressure mounts. This constant fear of failure causes him to land in an unfortunate circumstance where is forced to give up his dream of becoming a drummer.      

Fear of Failure can Sometimes cause people to become intimidated by the potential obstacles and challenges they will face in pursuit of their ambitions. As a result, they may start to doubt their abilities and settle for less than what they are truly capable of achieving.

Of course, when cornered by Flecther later into a life or death kind of scenario, Andrew surprises everyone including himself by bringing out the monster of the drummer in him which he did not even know he had in him.