Yet another day passes as I find myself driving by the local Barnes and Noble bookstore, on route to my summer internship at a successful law firm. As my car seems to effortlessly glide past this nostalgic presence, I cannot help but sport a smile - two years ago at this very location, I'd like to think my story began.

Shaky hands, sweaty palms, and a ridiculously-increased heart rate - these are all the unpleasant symptoms every high school senior remembers when enduring the dreaded college application process. Sitting in that very same Barnes and Noble, awaiting the arrival of an alumni representative from my dream college, I recall these dreaded symptoms all too well. "Relax," I kept telling myself. "Otherwise, he will see right through you."

You see, being a decent football player on my high school's football team, I already had the college's coaching staff in the bag; the real challenge came when I was asked to present my SAT scores - a criteria this college placed immense emphasis on - and my lackluster performance did no justice for. Because of this, I knew I had to do all I could in my power to prove that I was NOT the individual my test scores represented - my grades were up to the school's standards, I certainly had the skill to play on their football team, and with the conclusion of the evening interview, I added an excellent alumni recommendation to my resume as well. I thought it was a done deal, as everyone I knew congratulated me on a job well done.

Sitting here today, I would like to tell you I overcame the odds and received the golden "Letter of Acceptance" in the mail. The sad truth, however, is that I received the exact opposite - a form letter, addressed to the soon-to-be-brokenhearted-student, with the infamous "I'm sorry to inform you" first line, and a rubber-stamped signature from the Vice-President of Admissions pretending to display some semblance of regret for your rejection. A few days later, I received an email from the head coach at the college: "Better luck next time." I was devastated. What could I do? What can any individual do when faced with harsh feelings of inadequacy and failure?

For those of you still with me whom I have failed to scare away, I am sure you are all wondering "Well, what did you end up doing?" My answer is that I simply did not give up; I chose to accept admission to my second college of choice - a college which gladly wanted me from the start. Did this rectify the pain immediately? Of course not. Did I feel regret over my rejection? Most certainly. But, if there is one thing I am immensely grateful for, it is the fact that I did not let myself succumb to defeat. Because of this small decision to stay in the race when the going got tough, I am now immensely blessed to say that God has pointed me to a college which has become my undisputed home - a beautiful, 13,000-acre campus on top of the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee, encompassed with profound individuals I would never have met elsewhere. Who could ask for anything more?

Throughout life, you will certainly encounter all types of rejection, and feelings of defeat. In these moments, the most important thing one can do is make the decision to stay in the race. Once this decision is made, then half the battle is already won. They told me I would never find a college that would replace my dream college, but I stayed in the race, and eventually found one that has become not only my home but a place where I have found wonderful friends and a fraternity that would not have been present at my former dream college. Next, they told me I could not make it into the academic honor society while pledging a fraternity; but fortuitously, I stayed in the race once more, and with hard work and dedication, accomplished both. Lastly, I was told that I would be lucky to acquire an internship at a law firm as a freshmen. I kept believing, called numerous firms, interviewed, and now I am happy to say that I have been blessed by the Lord with an enriching internship opportunity.

Many individuals say that success is the product of luck; I, however, believe that success is the product of perseverance, hard work, and a dedication - above all else - to never give up on oneself, and to stay in the race when it seems as though you may not even finish.

So today, two years later, as I pass the bookstore where it all began, I smile again as I recall a quote from one of my favorite novels, "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas: "Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes." The storm came, and I got through it. Never give up.