As an English professional writing major, I will have a best friend called “Rejection.” Even outside the major, everyone gets rejected in some shape or form, whether from a job, an internship, a scholarship or romance. The way I usually deal with rejection is to allow myself to grieve, not to wallow. I need to bounce back up. It’s not the end of the world.
Last June, I was offered an internship and put in touch with the Senior Health Producer of Fox News Channel. But before she even interviewed me, I was rejected. She found someone else who lived closer and had higher qualifications. I did not feel too sad about this, because I had no qualifications for the job and I just wanted the job experience. Being rejected before I’d even begun left me feeling cheated. I was rejected. However, I keep in touch with her, look for other job opportunities and have established more connections for the working world.
This past summer, I applied to a number of jobs, one of which was at Rita’s Italian Ice. The issue with this was that I had applied too late for the job. I gave my application to the manager, who looked at it and grunted, “Are you applying for the job? Are you a senior?” With a fake, cheery smile, she thanked me and said she’d consider me. Of course, I knew I’d been rejected. Another summer before that, I applied to work a second year at a summer camp and was told that they would contact me if they needed me. It’s a frustrating process to get rejected from jobs. Becca Dierken, a first-year, said that she feels frustrated when she is rejected. “I take a deep breath and move on. I also try to think of what I might need to improve upon,” Dierken said.
A couple of years back, I had aspired to become a veterinarian. I sought out veterinary jobs, and I was rejected from each for not having enough experience. That is the one thing that is most frustrating about job searching. Employers want you to have experience before the job, but the only way to gain experience is by taking jobs. “I sulk about it at first, but I usually ask why I got rejected and learn from the mistakes I have made,” first-year Ginny Constantinou said. It is always important to know exactly why you were rejected and to improve yourself. For me recently, the cause has been that I do not apply for jobs early enough. “The early bird catches the worm,” as they say.
Scholarship rejections are similar to job and internship rejections, but it hurts more to be rejected from a scholarship because it denies you money that could have aided your education. I have experienced this as well. Last year, I applied for a scholarship essay and other scholarships through my high school, all of which rejected me. It is such a depressing feeling to get rejected because you sometimes begin to wonder if you are not good enough. However, there will always be other scholarships to apply for, just as there are jobs and internships. Currently, I am waiting to receive a response to my Fulbright scholarship application. Rejection is a high possibility, yet there is also a chance that I will be awarded the scholarship. Rejection and success are like yin and yang, because without the risk of rejection, there is no chance of success.
Besides academic and professional rejection, there is also is the terrible feeling of being rejected by someone you are romantically interested in. Personally, I usually reject others in that case, but I also have been rejected. When I was a first-year in high school, a junior who really liked me kept inviting me out for movies and dates. However, he got cold feet so many times that he often stood me up. It hurt, especially because he never acted like it was a big deal. When I was a junior in high school, I told a guy about my feelings for him. He did not exactly reject me, but he left me hanging. Soon after, we went on a friendly date with a group of friends. At some point along the date, he kissed me on the cheek. Then he told me it was like kissing his mother. How rude.
When you get rejected, no matter who rejects you, cope in healthy ways. Binge eating, drinking or smoking may seem like help at first, but the coping mechanism may turn into an unbreakable habit. Take a deep breath and distract yourself with activities you like. Miranda Sweetman, a first-year, likes to cope by watching Netflix. Andrew Kile, also first-year, suggests that someone who is rejected should move on as quickly as possible. Do not become so easily deterred if you are rejected from a job. Just keep searching for more. There are other opportunities out there. If you are rejected by someone you care about, spend some time with your friends. Busy yourself in your work, just as first-year Katelyn Gebbia does. Always be ready to bounce back.
Last semester, Professor Minton told our class that, as writers, we pour our hearts and souls into our writing for the world to see only to be rejected. As an aspiring writer, I cannot let rejection bring me down. Writers like J. K. Rowling were rejected plenty of times before making it to where they are now. Rejection is required for success and happiness. It is acceptable to fail and to be rejected by a love interest. Rejection closes one door and opens plenty of others. Don’t be down in the dumps about rejection. Keep your head held high and persevere!
