Andrelina Hsu Week 12: The Power of Rejection
The Power of Rejection
One month ago, I attended a job interview for the position of lead lifeguard at Aqua Adventure. Since this blog is about rejection, it’s no secret that I got rejected. Hearing the words, “First of all, I wanted to thank you for coming to the interview,” after two weeks of anxious anticipation has to be one of the most terrible and despondent situations I have experienced. I even had to pull over while driving because I couldn’t see through my tears anymore.
Although I had doubts at first, I still went into the interview with confidence in knowing that my two years of experience working there as a lifeguard, water safety attendant, and swim instructor would give me a running chance against the rest of the candidates. Therefore, even though I discovered in the end that the 2/5 applicants who were hired were over the age of 18 and realized that they favored more mature applicants, I was still completely dumbfounded at how I got rejected. Grasping the concept proved to be difficult, but after talking to my dad, I was able to introspect and view the situation from a different light: rejection is the path to growth. There will always be others who have worked longer than you have, known the supervisor longer, and are more qualified than you are in every field. I realized that rather than dwelling on the past, the most important thing to do is to utilize what that situation is trying to teach you and seize other, better opportunities.
As uncomfortable as it is to be rejected, numerous benefits actually come from it. Not only does rejection build resilience by teaching us to bounce back from setbacks, but overcoming rejection gives you the chance to prove them wrong. In an article titled “How to Deal With Rejection and Why It’s Actually a Good Thing,” author Melyssa Griffin makes an important point by stating, “A guy named Walt was fired from his newspaper job because he lacked imagination... and then he founded the Walt Disney Company. A receptionist named JK was let go because she spent her workday writing stories…and then she released a book series about a wizard child named Harry Potter.”
In the end, people will oftentimes turn you away without taking the time to understand what you are capable of. So when this happens, rejection should become the fuel that can motivate and push you forward towards achieving your ambitions, because it will feel amazing in the end when you do the very thing that you were told you couldn’t do.
Image credits: 1*wlzSlo6EbU7ZbXWlpoM7Rw@2x.jpeg
Hi Andrelina! Thank you for sharing this blog post about why rejection is not as bad as it seems because I fear that I will be needing it in a few weeks (the decisions for the summer programs that I applied to will be released in April). By integrating a story from your own life into this blog post, you made it more entertaining to read—especially because I can relate to the pain you felt after getting rejected from a job since I had a similar experience last summer—which kept my attention and better helped me understand the real message of the blog: that rejection may hurt but it also offers the opportunity to grow. Though this blog is about rejection, its message can also be applied to any sort of failure to meet a goal that a person experiences, and I can definitely see some examples of that in my own life. Last Saturday, I was running at a track meet but I failed to go fast enough to meet my goals for the week—although it presented a mental barrier that was difficult to get over, it also presented me with extra motivation to work hard and change my strategy so I can succeed in the future. However, returning to the topic of this blog post, I appreciate that the conclusion paragraph helped give me a new perspective on rejection by breaking down why rejection is able to motivate a person to grow.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrelina! I found your reflection on experiencing rejection during a job interview to resonate with me deeply, as I have also encountered a similar feeling of “rejection” after a job interview. Your frank retelling of the emotional impact of rejection, from the initial devastation to the eventual realization of its transformative power, provides valuable insight into the process of resilience and personal growth. One quote that has stuck with me, which also applies to your blog is “Rejection is redirection.” As you also state, rejection is not just a setback but an also opportunity for redirection and growth. Your experience after the job interview serves as a powerful reminder that rejection is a natural part of life and should not be viewed as a reflection of one's worth or abilities. Instead, it is a chance to reassess goals, refine skills, and pursue new opportunities with renewed determination. We will soon have to be applying to colleges, as are likely to face rejection and setbacks, during that process. After reading your blog, I will look at each rejection as an opportunity to reevaluate my strengths and weaknesses, explore new paths, and ultimately emerge as a stronger person. Rather than allowing rejection to define me, I will use it to empower me for further personal and academic growth. By adopting a positive mindset and viewing rejection as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block. Overall, your blog serves as a poignant reminder that rejection is not the end of the road but merely a detour on the journey to success. We can navigate life's challenges with confidence and determination by embracing rejection. Great job!
ReplyDeleteHi Andrelina,
ReplyDeleteI found that I was able to really resonate with your enlightening reflection on how rejection is not something we should be ashamed of or scared to face. As a high school student trying to figure out what to do, whether it’s maintaining grades or applying to internships or working a job, I have been in the hands of rejection many times. Sometimes, it’ll be me rejecting a possible field or subject I may want to pursue in the future. Other times, it’ll be me getting rejected by an internship or program I applied for. Regardless of what side of rejection I’m on, I always found that rejection only allowed me to grow and develop, it never hindered my efforts or my success. I couldn’t agree more with you when you state that we need to utilize what the situation of rejection is teaching us and seize the opportunity. Reading your reflection prompted me to form a new perspective on rejection. It’s sort of like a jumpstart - while it may stop us for a very small amount of time, it actually teaches us to bounce back from setbacks and become better than what people think of us. This satisfaction of when we prove people wrong and show our actual worth will forever remain an unmatchable feeling, and for us to feel such emotions, we must go through rejection and failure. I really appreciate your blog, and I hope that the next time I ever encounter an experience of rejection, I can use it as the fuel that motivates me to work even harder and achieve much more.
Hi Andrelina,
ReplyDeleteYour blog was very interesting regarding how being rejected from an opportunity would be beneficial rather than an obstacle. Unfortunately, being rejected is a horrible and saddening feeling, but you were able to point out the benefits of being rejected and how it provides an opportunity to grow as well as to discover new capabilities that can be helpful in the long term. I know people who have been constantly rejected from jobs and even being ghosted after an interview, and now it seems as if that is quite common in the job market. People are spending weeks if not months applying to hundreds of jobs but constantly being rejected. It can feel quite discouraging if you keep trying, but I always try to remind people who have been rejected to use this time to reflect and continue moving forward. Everyone has great opportunities lying ahead, but it is important to remain confident and always focus on getting back on track after a rejection. Now as the summer holidays are approaching, I am sure many high school students, including myself, would be applying for summer programs and internships and many of us might possibly face a rejection. If I get rejected, I would consider it as another chance as there is always something greater than what I would be rejected from. Your emphasis on keeping a positive mindset when dealing with a rejection is crucial to future success and to work towards better opportunities that lie ahead.