Rejection. Just the sight of this word alone probably makes your skin crawl. If you are like the majority of people you have had your fair share of dealing with rejection. I can testify to being rejected in many fashions: getting rejected when asking a boy to dance, not making a sports team, not receiving jobs and scholarships that I applied for, and not getting roles when I auditioned for theatrical productions.
Each time I have been rejected in my life, my self-esteem dropped and I felt talentless and stupid for even putting myself out there. Then, I would look and see incredibly talented people around me. My sister clearly has a bright future in front of her. She is a very determined, hard-working person and is not afraid to speak up when she feels that something is unjust. A teacher I had last year is another example of an extremely gifted person. He is unbelievably intelligent and is filled with passion about teaching and English. Additionally, my friends seem to all have their own talents: acting, singing, drawing, and so many more. Yet, I would sit in my misery and try to think of anything that I could say I "excel" in. To my distress, in those times of rejection, I could not find any which would only make me feel worse.
This is an important topic to address because you tend to compare yourself to others when you are having difficult moments. For example, just because you did not make the varsity sports team when your best friend did does not mean you are not talented or have less to contribute to the team, rather you may have more to contribute because this kind of opportunity leads to growth. People who have been rejected tend to work harder in order to prove themselves to those who rejected them or to strengthen their skills. Either way, they are motivated by the rejection to empower themselves to work harder and become better at whatever their passion is.
Another positive aspect of being rejected is the ability to be resilient. Many people lack this trait, yet if you have been rejected from something you have a passion for then you may have employed this skill. Personally, I love theater. I have been to countless auditions and have been rejected numerous times, and every time it would make me question my love for theater. Yet, I would take the experience and try to learn from it for my next audition. If you are truly passionate about something rejection will not get in your way but instead push you to new heights.
Your talents do not have to be the basic, "I am good at soccer" in order to be a gifted person. You could have talents that are unique to you such as being a nail artist or being good at cooking. Even if those do not fit your description you could be gifted in terms of being a shoulder to cry on or a solid, dependable friend. All of these pieces make people gifted, so do not discount yourself just because you cannot match pitches while singing.
Rejection is often a topic that is difficult to talk about because no one wants to fail or not be good enough to meet certain standards. What is forgotten is the fact that rejection builds skills such as dedication and resilience. Remember, do not be afraid to try new activities and put yourself out there. In the words of the great Kelly Clarkson, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
