To Those Who Received Rejection Letters

Applying to College
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<p>O.K., so I am just a junior and I have not yet endured what you seniors are going through this month with rejection letters and all, but I have experienced a lot of disappontment in my life, so I just want to tell those who feel that all of your efforts in high school were a waste, or that you let yourself or your parents down, or that there is no hope one thing that I have learned: Sometimes disappointment makes us better people. </p>

<p>I once read that birds that live in windy areas grow stronger and live longer than the same species that live in less windy areas. The wind make these birds develop stronger wings and hearts. It also makes them become more agile hunters. Of course, this is not automatic. To get stronger, the bird has to fly into the wind and learn to deal with it. If the bird avoids the wind or becomes paralyzed by the thought of dealing with it, it won't get stronger. I think the same is true with disappointment. If we let disappointment kill our dreams, then we'll be like the bird that refuses to fly in the wind. However, if we keep trying to reach our dreams no matter what elements we face, I think disappointment has the ability to make us stronger. We become stronger because we become more compassionate, more humble, more caring people. And that's a very good thing. (In fact, haven't you found that those people who achieve every goal they strive for without disappointment are arrogant and uncompassionate? Who wants to be like that?). </p>

<p>The bottom line is that each of you is a valuable person who has a lot to offer society. You may not get to fly in the calm skies that you desire, but you will get to fly nonetheless. Don't let any college rejection letter convince you that you are less than you are. </p>

<p>I've spoken to a lot of adults in my life, most of whom went to college. You know what's funny? Many of them were rejected from their top college choice, but each one now looks back on their life and realizes that they ended up being a better person. When I asked a good adult friend why this is true, she told me that when she was our age she wanted to go to a top school just to validate her hard work. Her ego drove her desires. She then told me that as she got older, she lost that part of her ego and started looking at life differently. I think that will happen to each of us as well. </p>

<p>Anyway, my heart was broken reading some of the posts from people who were recently rejected, and I just wanted to share this opinion. I hope each of you keeps positive and continues to have faith in yourselves and your futures.</p>

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<p>What a thoughtful post.</p>

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<p>and full of hope.</p>

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<p>Good post- I concur withanothermom3, it’s very thoughtful of you.</p>

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<p>Deep…</p>

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<p>What you just said Hope Full is the truth that everyone on the board should read. Great and thoughtful post :)</p>

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<p>lol whoaa…and all this is coming from a junior…some seniors have much to learn from you hope full haha…great post.</p>

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<p>Thank you for your thoughtful comments! I’m sure a lot of the people who get rejected (including me) will feel better now! I hope you will get into your dream school!</p>

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<p>Well, the way many people think of college acceptance are like verification stamps. Logic and the hopeful part of myself say that by being who I am I will be able to thrive where ever I go, but the truth is that…rejection is hard to bare. Especially when you are a senior and it seems like your life is about to turn to the next major chapter. What can we do but to want to obtain the best start?</p>

<p>My mom says that the teenagers in my generation are like strawberries, and gets hurt easily since we have never encounter any major challenges such as war or starvation. True, and perhaps you feel different since you wrote that you have gone through some obstacles (props to you). This will probably be my first significant challenge!</p>

<p>Can’t even explain what I’m trying say haha, but I do know that college acceptance means more than a simple invitation than a lot of people. To some it means freedom from home, to some it means carrying on the tradition, and to some it is a symbol of certain goals(though maybe unrealistic).</p>

<p>But thank you for your insight, it does calm me to hear such advice from someone near my age (instead of older family members :D). I hope you feel the same when your time comes.</p>

<p>P.S. Junior and you are checking this website already? It’s a nice place for information isn’t it! Very helpful site.</p>

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<p>Good post.</p>

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<p>The OP’s words should surely be taken to heart. They are wise, indeed. Surprisingly so. While you may have taken the metaphor a bit far, :slight_smile: I absolutely agree that flying into the wind makes you much stronger if you’re willing to fight the fight.</p>

<p>AND I think you’re absolutely right about what easy success does to people. Obscene amounts of money can do that as well (thinking they can buy themselves access). A few can, but most cannot. And I also agree that a lot of successful adults got rejected from their first choice college and end up in a happy and successful place.</p>

<p>Thing is, my son has flown into the wind enough for awhile and without some benefit or reward (the better meal for your bird), I worry how that will alter who he is, and not always in a positive way. The way I figure it, the bird might be stronger but he might also become cynical and jaded. Never seen a cynical bird, but I am sure it happens. What I absolutely admire most about my son is his ability to use any experience as a learning one, an opportunity to test one’s character and rise above… in fact, he is a much better sport than I would be in certain circumstances. However, if some really positive things don’t start coming his way, I envision him not as willing to put himself out there as readily as he does to challenges and I think he will end up missing out on more opportunity. He might not get hurt or disappointed as often, but he also wont find elation as often either.</p>

<p>The thing is, no one is harder on S than S himself. He likes high expectations, but the thing is, he raises the bar on himself. </p>

<p>So… when it comes to college admissions, there are a few schools we know he is clearly on the bubble and there are are two that would be amazing if he got in, two that would be shocking if he got in and a few that if he doesn’t get in, he’ll be beyond flabbergasted. I just want him to hear great news from two bubbles and an amazing. While perhaps a lot to ask, given how many other great kids are other there, I just really want him to have the luxury of choice. </p>

<p>Plus, I am his mother… we all want such wonderful lives for our children. And while that never means giving them everything they want or ask for (or think they need), you can’t help but hope life is good to them.</p>

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<p>The only problem I see is not being able to fastforward to see what college you get accepted to. With writing and personality like yours I wouldn’t be surprised if you got into one of the greats. And even if you didn’t you’d still be a great person. Thanks!!!</p>

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<p><a href=“http://images.despair.com/products/demotivators/adversity.jpg[/url]”>http://images.despair.com/products/demotivators/adversity.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Just kidding. I wholeheartedly agree with the OP (as a sophomore).</p>

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<p>I hope the OP can keep that mindset going into the admissions process; it was tough for me. Very well written.</p>

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<p>Wow… Thanks. :] I’ve been feeling pretty down lately, and your kindness is appreciated, OP.</p>

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<p>Wise and thoughtful words. I myself have struggled with many obstacles (including but not limited to family problems, family money problems, racism, etc etc) throughout my life and I have overcome most of them. Looking back, I can see that I have grown both mentally and physically from those experiences. But those of us who fly into the wind sometimes come out scarred and with cynical world views as one of the posters above mentioned. I’ve learned that life is never fair and is usually very unfair to us minorities and the disadvantaged. All we can do is pick ourselves right back up and keep fighting until the day we die because there is nobody else we can trust to have our backs except for ourselves.</p>

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<p>i am sorry for ur senior year to come and the rejection letters u may come across (hopefully not). you would never think that it would make a difference or that it would affect you… but it does, it really does.
yeah we all go through tough times when we are rejected but we should remember it’s not the end of the world ( as i believe it to be now ) and hopefully we get through ittttt and never look back and ask ourselves “what if” or “i wish”</p>

<p>ur words are very warming to the heart
thanks for ur sincerity… aahh i wish we could have a group hug for all the heartbroken rejectees lol</p>

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<p>Thank you. :)</p>

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<p>gay and useless</p>

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<p>I love how you made an account just to post that one response.</p>