Dealing with College Rejection

They often say that senior year is the best year. They lie.

My senior year was nothing short of a frenzied morass of hard work. Somewhere in the midst of 60-hour school work weeks, tutoring kids after school, endless nights studying for exams, and staying up until odd hours of the night under the warm glow of a desk lamp, feeling so tempted to write "I want to go to your university so I can be successful. Duh!" on my essays, I got tired. Yes, exhausted to say the least and the days started to feel like that last sentence: long with one thing after another. 

As I crossed into spring semester and the decision letters began to creep into my hands, I began to wonder if I really should have written, "I want to go to your university so I can be successful. Duh!", because some of these colleges weren't quite getting the memo. How can I have a wonderful college experience at your school if you don't even let me in? Jerks!, I would think to myself from time to time. At first, it wasn't a big deal. I applied to a wide variety of schools and knew that I would be going somewhere great. 

But it got to a point where I began to lose heart and became overwhelmed by the fact that I had no idea where my life was going. I got really emotional. For a few days, I retreated to the confines of my room, hidden under a canopy of smooth linen bed sheets and Kleenex tissues with a dollar store flashlight, term papers and anatomy flashcards to console me (looking back, it is kind of comical because it's so dramatic but in that moment, it was definitely not). In my attempt to not let my slump affect my family's energy, I would only really socialize when necessary for family prayer time, or dinner. 

One night, at the calling of my name from downstairs, I made my journey to the kitchen where one of my favorite meals, plantain and rice, sat waiting for me to indulge. "I picked up some pies today. Publix was having a sale on desserts. Try the cherry one, it's good," mom said. So after dinner, I did. Cherry was a new flavor for me but I figured that if it was anything like its name, it could cheer me up. I carved a pretty slice from the thin tin pan and heated it up. On top, a scoop of vanilla ice cream because that's the best way to experience pie. The first bite was amazing and the glob seemed to explore every crevasse of my mouth. The sticky, hot cherries seemed to burst with excitement as I
chewed and the creamy cold of the vanilla came to soothe my warm tongue soon after. I sat there as
I witnessed cinnamon and sugar marry on my taste buds. I don't know how or why, but I realized that my slump was not worth missing moments like these. 

Being rejected by colleges is no easy thing and in the midst of senior year when there's a bunch of activities and celebrations, it can be even more discouraging. But think about it. If I had allowed my sorry feelings to keep me from enjoying the good things life was offering me in that moment, I wouldn't have experienced the decadence of that pie. It wouldn't be one of my favorite pies, nor would I be able to appreciate it in the way I do now. So, in the midst of rejection of any kind, do not allow feelings of sorrow or neglect to obscure your view of the delight that is not only coming, but here already. I know it seems like a bit of a stretch, but sometimes, it is through the smallest things that we are reminded of how blessed we are and how great life can be. 

Today was a bit of a read so thank you for sticking with me. I know it's been a while since the Class of 2022 got their decisions but I didn't have an active blog at that time so... I'm writing this now (LOL). Anyway, I hope this message finds those of you who need it. Be sure to share with someone you know that needs to hear this and subscribe in the upper right corner for updates! Until next time!