My latest read, “Rejection Proof”, has been on my to-read list for some time. I was intrigued by how the author’s tips could apply to high school students. As we know, rejection is a normal and unavoidable part of being a young person - from navigating relationships to pursuing interests to applying to college, graduate school, and eventually jobs. Jiang’s personal stories offer simple tips to help readers reframe rejection and look at it as an opportunity instead of a stumbling block.
Here’s my favorite quote from the book: “By focusing on controllable factors such as our efforts and actions, and by detaching ourselves from uncontrollable outcomes such as acceptance and rejection, we can achieve greater success in the long run”.
I think this is a great way to reframe college admissions decisions, reminding students to focus on what they can control (the quality of their application) instead of what they can’t control (college needs/goals or “institutional priorities”).
Happy reading!
