<p>I think the trick is to strike a balance, and that is the tricky part. Definitely being able to handle rejection and disappointment is a very important part of growing up. Many adults can’t handle this! But I also think that one should broaden one’s goals and not focus solely on one college, job, apartment, etc., as there is no way to control many of these processes. The goal might be to handle the process in a flexible way so as to minimize the desolation that comes with rejection. Feel the pain, process the pain, change what you can, and then move on to the next challenge. As a teacher in a private school I see too many kids who feel they are entitled to the best grades, and the best of everything. As one mother once said, these kids feel they are the belly-button of the world. To them, they are! We have to help them broaden their focus to include the rest of us.</p>