It is growth. Life does not move from the first grade to a more advanced, more capable, higher grade. Just because one makes it through the twelfth grade, college, or even material success, there is no guarantee of success in the next lessons and tasks that life has in store for us. Even twelfth graders can fail, even college students can fail, and even successful business people can fail. Previous success does not guarantee future success.
Professors can fail, anyone, anytime, can fail.
Life is not advancement. It is growth. It does not move upward, but expands outward, in all directions.