Re-reading rejection emails from internships like a breakup text.
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You know the feeling, don't you? That particular sting when an email, cold and concise, shatters weeks of dreaming, meticulous application crafting, and those nerve-wracking interviews. For us, at a place synonymous with excellence, a rejection isn't just a missed opportunity; it’s a personal affront, a direct hit to an identity carefully constructed on high achievement. We pore over those sterile paragraphs, searching for hidden meanings, for a "why" that isn't just "we went with other candidates." It feels like a breakup text from a future you’d already mentally moved into, leaving you questioning everything.
Outsiders, bless their hearts, just don't get it. "But you go to a top university!" they exclaim, oblivious to the unique crucible we navigate. They don't see the sheer, unyielding competition, the internal pressure to constantly prove your worth, not just to the world, but to yourself. This isn't just about a job; it's about validating the immense effort, the sleepless nights, and the countless sacrifices made to be here.
It’s an isolating struggle, this private battle with perceived failure in an environment that demands nothing less than perfection. So, if you've ever found yourself dissecting a "thanks but no thanks" email with the intensity of a heartbroken lover, know you're not alone. It's a shared, unspoken rite of passage in our world, a testament to how deeply we invest, and how profoundly we feel. Keep going.