On Rejections and Admissions- Pt. 1
I did the above because I really like how it looks. However, what tipped me off was how the dictionary defined rejection as (1) the act of rejecting; (2) the state of being rejected. 😒
Like rejection is as easy to bear as sibling squabbles.
To be honest, nobody knows how to deal with rejection. There is no rule book on how to deal with rejection- you figure it out as you get along in life.
Sometimes, you are rejected by colleagues, not so friendly friends, organizations and even by partners. I guess one thing rejection builds in you is resilience. You stop asking questions like how a syrupy milk chocolate goodness like me can be refused. Me!!! The whole package that I am😌.
So, I have come to tell a tale of two parts- one from me on how I was not accepted into my dream school and the next from someone who was accepted into that school to talk about the school so I can get to live my dream through the person’s experience.
I had heard a lot about the school- The African Leadership Academy. However, I didn’t fall in love with the school till I checked it out myself. It was an Advanced Level school- a way to absorb the shock of just coming out of secondary school and the many pressures of undergraduate life. What really made me want this school was the fact that I would get to meet so many people from other African countries because I grew up in a shell and I didn’t really get to meet other Africans till last year. That’s how sheltered my life is.
According to the what I heard, every Friday was supposed to be something like a cultural day where we would get to interact with other people and eat African Food- I’m a foodie so I was sold on that one. Besides, I also saw it as a way to change the narrative- I could get into the school filled with nerds like me and be the cool, sassy, bossy person that I couldn’t be. I could be Oluwasolafunmi the untouchable. I had been sold a dream through the not so heathy international movies we watch about students who change schools.
But there was a catch- only 120 students would be admitted out of over 1000 applicants. But I wasn’t deterred because they weren’t really making use of grades. To me, it was to be a walk in the park. I got the form and I had to write a lot of essays on leadership and community service. There was also a section for awards and conferences and I made sure I put in my best. I just had to get into ALA because I badly wanted to change my narrative.
I had a dream and in that dream, I got in! Oh, what joy! My God doesn’t flop because he doesn’t wear flip-flops. I had already made plans. I was in South Africa, visiting the places Mandela visited, hand in hand with my caramel looking boyfriend, brainstorming on how to solve hunger in Somalia- after all, that’s what the movies call changing the narrative.
Then I had another dream, and I saw myself with a friend that told me that God didn’t want me there and to my natural self, it made no sense. I binded and casted so much that my binder wore out. Long story short, I didn’t get in. I was in the level of those that neither got accepted nor rejected.
I guess what I learned was that rejection shouldn’t define you. If you fail, cry and throw tantrums- you are justified to do that but ultimately, don’t put yourself out of the game. Try again!!! This doesn’t mean that I don’t get rejected time and again, but after feeling bad, I put myself out again. To be honest, I still get newsletters from the school and I still say to myself- I am a member of their community. Whenever the voice comes up on how I didn’t get in, I say- I don’t have to go to the best school in Africa before I change the world.
Besides, rejection is a way of God saving me from myself. The kind of mistakes I have made would have ruined me if I was there. In addition, I have met the most beautiful set of people that have aided me in my story so far and I am grateful for that. Fine, I am still a single pringle- no caramel looking goodness has come forth from the shadows but the most important thing is that there are leaders who have ruined Africa and I am a part of the generation that will fix it. And that’s my submission.
Honestly, every time I put out my email address, nobody sends me any emails but I’ll still keep giving it… if you have any opinions and thoughts, comment on this post or send me an email at lamngstt@gmail.com. If you also want share your story, please comment or send me an email.
If you have been rejected by your caramel looking goodness, comment or send me an email.
More importantly, if you went to ALA, please, send me an email, I really want to know how life there is.
Don’t hesitate to follow me and tag me on social media @life_of__deola (I’m about to change my username). Adios amigos.
