Rejection is a dish best served cold. Actually, that cliché belongs to "revenge". However, both words leave people feeling exposed to what seems like frostbite. Rejection sucks. Period. No matter how you slice the rejection pie, every piece hurts to eat.

Unfortunately, as humans we want approval for any and everything we do. Yes, I'm speaking to everyone even those that say "I don't have feelings". You don't like rejection either. Rejection has the ability to cross multiple categories. For instance, there's rejection in the academic and work sense. For many young adults not getting accepted to their dream university or their first major job is their first encounter. Many of my friends wanted to attend all the Ivy's (literally all of them) but their chances fell short. I've had my own piece of the rejection pie as well. I can't tell you how many Chipotles, Forever 21s, Wendy's, and Claire's stores I applied to before I got my first job. Rejection takes other forms like you pursuing your dreams and starting a new venture. But there's one type of rejection that everyone believes cuts the deepest. If rejection were a category on Family Feud, the number one answer would probably be "love". Those love rejection responses are gut wrenching. I'm referring to the "I think we are better as friends", the "I don't think we are ready to take the next step (insert excuse) and last but not least the "I love you, but, (insert excuse) I can't marry you" responses. If it wasn't bad enough that the person exposed their innermost vulnerable thoughts, basically leaving them emotionally naked, but the fact they had to endure those acid filled answers hitting their soul is a whole other entity in itself.

Though, I described some hard to swallow situations, the moral of the story is, everyone faces rejection. There is no human, or at least normal one, that hasn't experienced it. Join the Reject Club, all are welcome. Unfortunately, it is a part of life and it doesn't go away. Rejection is always there to lend you that trip in the middle of the street when you have hot fresh Starbucks. Rejection is humbling. Imagine living in a world where everyone has everything they ever wanted. Seems pretty boring, right? It will never be easy to deal with being rejected but you should never let it consume you. It is okay to feel sad at first but a strong spirit is the greatest weapon in your arsenal when battling rejection. Instead of moping around and feeling sorry for yourself, go out, spend time with friends and family. If you continue to harbor on the issue you will be stuck in a continuous sad loop. If nothing else works there is always ice cream. Your wounds will heal and the universe is not out to get you, I promise. So the next time you get friend zoned, have a project that is dismissed, or Harvard wasn't able to realize how awesome you are, take a second to remind yourself you are not alone.