Getting used to rejection

I have been at college for a semester, and most of it hasn’t been a shock: the academic side of it has been pretty easy, my social life is going genuinely well and there’s not much I can complain about. But, I was one of the highest people in my class during Highschool, and there’s been a large change in a few things since I’ve come to college. My academic performance is the same if not better in college than it was in high school, but I go to a very, very large college with more than 30k students. So, there’s a lot more people around my level. So, when u apply for on campus jobs, or really anything regarding the school, it’s a lot harder to get: my competition was a lot less in high school. Now I‘ve applied to around 9 on campus jobs, and all of them have rejected me. Even when some of them had a 50% acceptance rate. I’m now getting in my head, worrying that if I don’t get a prestigious on-campus job relating to tutoring or something similarly difficult, I’ll be an Academic failure, and no one will want to hire me after college. Even though I’m only in my freshman year, these applications feel like they have a lot of weight and are a lot more difficult than those in high school. Has anyone else had a similar experience? If so, what have you done to comfort yourself when one rejection comes after another?

Jesus2di4U (...

Date posted: Yesterday

You were a big fish in a small pond, & now you're a small fish in a big pond. Sivel, even tho I'm middle age now (53y.o., but a 'young 53'), I'm in a parallel situation, having been out of work for 8+ months (partly my fault for not searching more aggressively, but more due to just a tight job market). I too get down on myself at times, & sometimes I've been beating-up myself for lacking this or not doing enough of that. Then, I remember a few things: (1) if I don't act as my own advocate, no one else may do it, & we each have every reason to be our own best cheerleaders & fans (no matter what we accomplish, we each still are GOD'S handiwork--& like a heavyset, outspoken, 'street' lady used to belt out while the pastor was in the middle of giving a sermon at our Salvation Army church services, 'GOD DON'T MAKE JUNK!' ; (2) the fact that I am not employed at the moment does not cancel what I have accomplished or become so far---we still have our skills & talents to contribute even when someone is not paying us for them; (3) if we are not in a 'do' phase, then we are in a 'prep' phase---we can still redeem the time in a 'self-equipping' phase; (4) [speaking of competition] a LOT of others are in our same boat (APM/public radio show about the economy has been reporting a sluggish job market since at least Sept2025), so our yet-to-be-hired states likely don't have so much to do w/ deficiencies in us; (5) [fueled by my faith and knowing that God is good & knows our needs & has promised to provide in His timing], I chose to hold an ABUNDANCE rather than a POVERTY mentality---knowing there is enough to go @round, & I have what it takes, & so do you, Sivel; (6) the issue of my (& your) worth was settled at the Cross---b/c God sent a Savior to die on behalf of each one of us. ~Christian C.

Getting used to rejection

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community