Little Things

I rolled out of bed last Wednesday morning, my legs kicking back sheets and the sun bathing my belongings in pale yellow. Shuffling around in my dorm room, my sandals smooth across the linoleum floor, I brushed back photos of Britin and little letters from friends on the surface of my desk and opened my laptop. The usual rotation: Goodreads, WordPress, Yahoo, Facebook, and finally, Gmail.

Dear Thomas,

Thank you for your application. We have drawn up a shortlist of candidates to be interviewed. I very much regret that it was not possible to include your name on the list.

I read the email twice, just to test myself, to ensure my eyes could see my defeat.

Calling All Rejects (College Post #1)

“Hey,” it says, cradling my confidence, one whisper from taking it away. “You’re not good enough.”

It came to me again, seven hours ago, in a cafe ten minutes away from home. I opened my email to check the results of my last four college applications. Sitting in that tiny booth, with bread crumbs spilled across the seat, I discovered my academic destiny.

One acceptance, along with the three I had already received. Four total. Good.

Two wait-lists. Ouch.

One rejection. Burn.

Perseverance

Perseverance (noun): steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

Today, I was rejected.

To some, rejection is an everyday occurrence. Rejection from a friend who didn’t like your Christmas present, rejection from a teacher who didn’t enjoy reading your essay, rejection from a family member who is disappointed that you forgot to do the dishes. To others, rejection is much more. It is the building of one’s dreams, hopes, and aspirations – all piled up into a heap so humongous that it blots everything else out – and then having that heap crushed, that perfect image perforated so that nothing remains but a vast emptiness.

The word of the day is not “rejection”, though. It is Perseverance. Perseverance is the strength to move on from rejection, learning from it and making yourself stronger because of it. Without rejection, perseverance would not exist. And vice versa.

I’ve learned that it is healthy – essential, even- to get beat down. To get the wind knocked out of you so harshly that all you can think of is how you’re going to live with yourself until tomorrow. So when you do realize how you’re going to live, and how you’re going to remain living – that is the power of perseverance coming to save you from rejection. It is an amazing, empowering feeling.

Today, I was rejected, and I am happy.

‎”In three words I can sum up everything I’ve heard about life. It goes on.” – Robert Frost.