Being rejected is a fear that many of us can relate to. Whether it’s the fear of being rejected by friends, in a job, by a love interest, by family, and the list goes on and on. But being rejected is a part of life, as well as being accepted.
Let’s be honest, rejection is far from pleasant, it is an uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. However, it´s something that will accompany us through our entire life, whether we like it or not. But there is no need to panic because even though it can make us feel bad and sad, it also has some benefits, such as: personal growth, resilience and the pursuit of better opportunities.
In this blog post I’m going to share a little story about my life in the hope that it might inspire you to pursue your passions, even when the possibility of rejection is still there.
My dream Job
Since I was a little girl, my dream has always been to become an actress. For as long as I can remember, “being an actress” was my wish when blowing out birthday candles, seeing a shooting star, blowing on a dandelion, spotting a mirrored number on the home screen of my cellphone or during New Year’s eve. That’s why, from a young age, I dedicated myself to turning this desire into reality. I took classes with many teachers and at various schools.
Fortunately, in December of 2022, this dream job finally came after years of rejection and “no’s”. I went to auditions where the casting director told me that my arm was too big or that what I did was not good enough. Also, on occasions I went to auditions with friends and they got callbacks, while the only recognition I received was a compliment about my name. Yes, I felt really frustrated about these situations and, at times, I thought about quitting, but luckily I didn’t.
How did I get my dream job? with a little bit of luck and persistent determination.
In Argentina, near my house, there is a huge store called Alparamis that stages children’s plays at various times throughout the year. Ever since I was a little girl, I used to attend these plays with my sisters and friends and once we were again at home we would recreate them in our backyard, on what we imagined was a stage. I knew all the plays by heart and was familiar with all of the actors. As I got older, I also took my younger cousins to see these plays. Then, in December of 2022, I had the opportunity to perform in these plays next to the actors I had known since I was little. I was initially hired to work at the theater entrance, scanning the QR codes on the tickets, but one day, I boldly asked if I could replace one of the actresses who had been absent. They said yes because they didn’t have many other options, and in the end they liked my performance. It may sound a bit egocentric, but it’s true because after that, they continued to call me to participate as an actress in subsequent productions.
Things i learned from this experience
On your journey, you will encounter many “no’s”, unfortunately more than “yeses,” but if you work hard and keep trying, the “yeses” will eventually appear. Maybe it will be an unexpected “yes” in a job you never imagined doing, but in the end, that job will provide you with experiences and new tools to continue learning and moving towards jobs that you may like more.
Create your own opportunities, continue learning and try new things. Listen to people but do not absorb everything that they say. Do not let everything they say condition your journey. Do not let anyone else decide your future!
Also, I learnt to understand my audience—not just who they are, but what they’re doing and how they feel (2017, August. Want to Create Great Content? Know Your Context. Brain Traffic. https://www.braintraffic.com/insights/know-your-context). In other words, when I was writing my CV I had in mind who was going to read it and the scenario in which they would do so. Probably the person reading your CV has already gone through numerous CVs and may be feeling fatigued, possibly daydreaming about their coffee break, so include in it something fresh and exciting about yourself that will call their attention and leave a lasting impression.
By Francesca Frelli Horga
