Throughout high school, I frequently struggled to make a name for myself. I wasn't smart or popular enough for people to listen to, but I wasn’t dumb enough to not be given a chance. This struggle followed me to college where I found out that unlike in high school, finding leadership roles was cut-throat. Without any solid, written down leadership roles on my resume out of high school, getting what I wanted proved to be a tough task. I was too great to be average, but too average to be great.
This, I would soon find, would always be a hard pill to swallow. I want to do so many great things, and I am capable of doing those great things, but it is rare that I am given the opportunity. I question this a lot because I hate being this strong-willed and passionate with nothing to show for it.
Are great people born great? If they are not “born great,” how do they become great? How are these great people given all the socially and personally advancing opportunities not granted to myself? How do I become that "great" person? I struggle with these questions because I don't see myself as any different than these other “great people.” I have the same drive and passion for my community as they do, and I most certainly have the same excitement and drive to get things done.
The only way to move past this large hinderance is to keep trying. Continual failure should hurt. If losing an opportunity that you cared a lot about does not hurt you, you didn't care enough about it. Being rejected hurts me every time because it's meant for that particular thing; I was not the best there was. I was lower than the lowest “great” person they have. But this hurt should only fuel your drive to try again. In just about anything someone could apply for, professionals love to see people pushing and trying again. It shows that you have heart and determination to prove that you are a good candidate and that you can get the job done.
After every rejection, it is good to sit back and reflect on what maybe went wrong or the reason why you were not given the thing that you wanted so bad. In this case, I often contact the person who was running the application process and ask them why I was not chosen. This, along with trying again, shows that you care about how you are going to be perceived next time that you apply.
With as many times that I have been rejected it would be easier to just let it go. But I know that if I push enough and try to gain as much experience as possible before the next time I am given the opportunity, eventually things will work out. I find it easier to turn it around and think about the rejection backwards. They would be 1 million times greater if they were to have me on their team, and it is their loss if they do not hire me. So next time I go to apply they should keep in mind how much of a great asset I would be to their team and remember to bring me on board so they do not lose such an amazing addition like they did last time.
