A funny thing happened to me last week. And by funny, I mean humiliating and discouraging.
I showed up to interview for an internship with a local sports team. Long story short, no one in the office, even the person I had talked to concerning the interview, knew why I was there.
Internships are steppingstones into the adult world for college students, and my stone sank. In my head, walking up to the building, I was grooming myself as a future famous sportswriter resulting directly from this job.

After being looked at like I was a Martian for the longest 15 seconds of my life, I thanked them and left.

Needless to say, I was flabbergasted. Embarrassed and angry at the apparent miscommunication and lost opportunity, I peeled out in my car to show them who was boss while feeling sorry for myself the entire way home.

Twenty-four hours later, I was still reeling. The chance to work for a sports team, my dream job, was lost because of reasons beyond my control. It’s a good time to pack it in and stop trying for the rest of my life, I thought to myself. Why put myself out there if I’m only going to face rejection?

But rejection is a big part of job searching, and I won’t dwell on this one. People on Celebrity Apprentice get rejected all the time, yet they still get back on the horse. So if Gary Busey can do it, why shouldn’t I?

Other opportunities will arise for me and for every other student looking to make their mark post-college. What separates the ones who venture into their desired fields and the ones who move on to something else is perseverance with applying and interviewing, even when knowing that a “no” could be the only answer they hear.

It is another preparatory step on the way to becoming an adult that everyone should go through, as painful and disheartening as it is.

I had a mortifying experience for the ages, and soon enough, I’ll be able to laugh about it.
I can also take solace in the fact that more opportunities will pop up, and none of them will dent my vigor or enthusiasm.

Because if the most awkward interview in my history doesn’t scar me for life and is instead used as a teaching tool, I’ll be in good shape.