Rejection: A Turning Point by Brenna

Rejection: A Turning Point by Brenna - November 2013 Scholarship Essay

My hands were shaking with excitement and anticipation as I quickly tore open the envelope I had been waiting months to receive. My enthusiasm died immediately when I read the words, “We regret to inform you that you have not been selected for this program.” I felt my heart drop down into my stomach and wondered what went wrong. My interview for the junior class internship in the plant science department at Norfolk County Agricultural High School had gone so well, or so I thought. I really believed I had nothing to worry about and was excited to work alongside employees of Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum for the last term of my junior year. I pretended like it was okay with me even though inside, it really wasn’t; especially since I learned earlier that day that a majority of my friends had been accepted. It bothered me for the rest of the weekend, and come Monday, I made it look like it had no impact on me. I congratulated my friends, because I was happy for them and knew they truly deserved it, but I was hurt, angry, and jealous.

After a few days, I thought about why I was rejected. I barely had any extra-curricular activities and my grades were not nearly as good as I knew they could be. I didn’t have time for school sports because I lived in a city an hour away, but that was no excuse; I could’ve done some activity at a place closer to me. My grades were sub par and I knew that if I just put more effort into my work and asked for help, I could have grades that would actually show my infinite potential. I just needed to become motivated and I knew it had to come from inside myself. I came to realize that I could be and do anything in this life, and it’s all up to me to figure it out. I worked harder my last term and earned a B average rather than the C average I had the previous year. I got more involved in things, such as instrument lessons, school clubs, and a part time job. Soon, I realized this was making me happier, my personal life mended itself from the hard times I had at home and school my sophomore year, because I was actually learning at school. Lessons began to sink in, and I applied those skills into my real life, whether they were basic academic abilities, or words of wisdom from vocational teachers.

By becoming more involved in different areas in my personal, social, and school life, I found a love of exploring and trying new things. I learned what I want to do with my life is explore. I want to discover my limits and experience everything this big world has to offer. Getting that rejection letter was a turning point for me, it ended up helping me a lot more than hurting. I’d rather make mistakes than nothing at all.