7 Things Rejection Has Taught Me
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

7 Things Rejection Has Taught Me

You feel just as shitty every time.

823
7 Things Rejection Has Taught Me
Kayleigh Garrison

Rejection, a feeling we've all faced, and something that is impossible to avoid no matter how hard we try. For some of us, the feeling of rejection is few and far. For others, it's a feeling that never goes away.

What does rejection look like?

It's when someone friend-zones you. It's when you're denied admission to your dream college. It's when an internship or job you applied for sends you an email along the lines of, “We want to thank you for your interest in (insert job or internship title). We had many fine applications for the position, including you. However, we have filled the position with someone whose background and credentials we feel best meet our needs at this time." Or, in my case, it's when every job and internship you applied for sends you that dreaded email. It's when you feel like you're not good enough.

If you've never felt the amount of rejection I have, cheers to you; you're lucky. If rejection is a common feeling, I know how you feel.

It doesn't matter what you were rejected from because each rejection hurts just as much. It doesn't matter how many times someone tells you, "Don't give up, it will all work out," because you're just waiting for that next rejection letter to pop-up in your email.

From all the rejection I have experienced throughout my life, this is what I have learned:

1. It severely damages your self-esteem.

It's difficult watching your peers succeed in everything they do. You want to support them and cheer them on, but you can't help but feel jealous of the success they have achieved.

Whether it's the girl who has a stand-out resume packed with intense, high-profile internships, or the guy who got the acceptance letter to your dream college, you compare yourself to other people regularly, and often ask the questions, "Why can't I be as successful as they are? What am I doing wrong?" Getting rejected regularly shatters your confidence.

You get to the point where you walk into every job interview feeling hopeless, on the verge of asking the interviewer, "Can you just reject me already and get this over with?"

2. A common question is, "What's the point?"

What's the point of spending thousands of dollars to get a college degree if you're going to be unemployed after college because you don't have enough experience to get a job? What's the point of applying to internships and jobs if you're going to get the same basic and boring rejection email time and time again? What's the point of believing in yourself when it doesn't matter? What's the point of even trying when you're always going to feel inferior to other people?

3. You can't avoid it.

Even when you're in your prime and on cloud nine, rejection sneaks up on you. It appears in various ways and makes you feel just as shitty every time.

4. Jealousy is the epitome of evil.

What I would give to remember the last time I wasn't jealous of someone.

5. It makes you stronger.

No matter how many times you want to give up and say, "fuck it," you don't. While at times you'd rather hide in your turtle shell, you push through the obstacles and keep trying. You have the thickest skin around because you know what it feels like to be rejected, and you toughen up because you know that you're going to keep getting rejected whether you like it or not. When it feels like the whole world is against you and wants to watch you fail, you put on your big-girl pants and move on.

6. Having a backup plan is crucial.

I can't tell you how many times I've read an interview where a Hollywood actor says something like, "Acting was my only plan. I didn't have anything to fall back on because I wanted to focus all my attention on making this work." While I admire their determination and belief in a happy ending, I've learned that things usually don't work out the way you planned, and having a backup plan is crucial if you're ever going to amount to anything.

If I had my heart set on one internship and didn't apply to any others, I would have been deeply disappointed when I realized that I had nothing to fall back on and fill the void. Obviously, I felt more pain in the long-run because I got rejected from them all, but at least I made an attempt at exploring other options. If you don't have a backup plan and something doesn't work out the way you wanted, you really are going to have nothing.

7. You have to keep your head up.

Whether you like it or not, you're going to get rejected at some point throughout your life. If you're anything like me, you're never going to stop getting rejected. I'm not going to sugar-coat it and say that rejection is easy because it's not.

A feeling of rejection is something I wouldn't wish on anyone because it destroys your confidence and self-esteem and makes you feel unworthy. Rejection sucks, but you can't give up on yourself. Just because someone didn't see potential in you doesn't mean you're hopeless or damaged. Just because someone might be better than you or more qualified for this or that doesn't mean you're not talented. You have to take rejection with a grain of salt and move on, realizing that if God wanted you to have something, you would have it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

42856
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

26893
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

951927
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

140860
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments