There it was. The envelope. An envelope that would tell me if I was accepted into my dream college. All that excitement that I had built up over the last four months awaiting the arrival of this envelope, and now it's finally here. The overbearing excitement quickly turned into overwhelming nervousness, and I went to open the letter. Usually, on an acceptance letter, the first word is Congratulations! Or, if not congratulations, something more positive than "We're sorry to inform you that due to a large pool of applicants, we are only able to offer you a spot on the wait-list." That exact statement was what I read, and all the nervousness that was once excitement turned into feeling like I was going to barf. Not getting into your dream school is a feeling like no other.
So, I started my freshman year at UNC Greensboro (thank god I was accepted) and here's what I'd like to thank my dream school for.
Dear (Old) Dream College,
I'd first like to start off by saying I was very pissed at you. And, if you were one single person, I'd like to say I probably would have slapped you in the face. You made me feel like a couple grades that I got in high school made me the person I am today, which is entirely not true. I am much more than a "C" on a report card, and an average SAT score.
And, although I was not involved in every sport like a couple of my peers may have been, I loved the ones I was involved in. And, when I started school at my second choice, I finished the first semester with all A's and one B. So, you would have been lucky to have me. But, I am at peace now, because this is where I was supposed to be.
Thank you for wait-listing/denying me acceptance because here I have met my best friend, joined a sorority, written for a writing column, and was asked to join an honor society. And I'm doing pretty dang well.
Thanks for teaching me that the people who can't see past a couple bad grades are not people worth being in my life, and I deserve better. Thanks for teaching me that sometimes things won't go the way you planned, but it still can end up being everything you wanted it to be. Thanks for teaching me things are what you make them. And, finally, thanks for teaching me that I should be proud of the grades I got because despite the things that held me back, I did the best I could. So, thanks for teaching me that my best is good enough for me.
Sincerely,
A Student You Denied and Who is, in Fact, Happy About it.
