Keep Going, For My Family: Hope Beyond the Rejection Letters

 Here we go again. Another rejection letter. Another polite, carefully worded dismissal of my work, my skills, my potential. I read it, let out a slow breath, and set it down with the others. Each one feels like a weight pressing down, but deep down, I know something they don’t: I know what I can do. If only given the chance.

I’m not new to rejection. It’s a feeling I’ve grown familiar with—one that has tested my patience, my resolve, and sometimes even my confidence. But if there’s one thing rejection hasn’t done, it hasn’t broken me. If anything, it’s built me into someone stronger. I know my worth, even if they don’t see it yet.

I think of the greats—Walt Disney, who was told he lacked imagination. J.K. Rowling, who received rejection after rejection before her words changed the world. Thomas Edison, who failed thousands of times before finally creating something that changed the course of history. What if they had let rejection define them? What if they had walked away from their dreams? I refuse to let that be my story.

The truth is, rejection is not a stop sign; it’s a redirection. It’s a chance to refine, to improve, to push forward with even more determination. Every closed door is proof that I am trying, that I am putting myself out there, that I am chasing something bigger than myself. Each rejection is not the end—it’s part of the journey.

It's disheartening—not just for me, but for my family too. They see the effort I put in, they share in the hope, and they feel the disappointment when another door closes. But that’s exactly why I can’t stop. I have to persevere, not just for myself, but for them. With them in view, I must move forward. I owe it to them to keep trying, to show them that setbacks don’t define us—how we respond to them does.

Still, I remind myself that it’s not proof of failure; it’s proof that I’m in the game. The people who never get rejected are the ones who never try. And I refuse to be one of them. Every time I get knocked down, I get back up, because I know deep inside that I have something valuable to offer.

I know what I can do. I know the value of my ideas, my work, my talent. And I know that the right opportunity is out there. Maybe today wasn’t my day. Maybe tomorrow won’t be either. But someday, someone will see what I see in myself. They will take a chance on me, and when that happens, I’ll be ready.

Until then, I won’t waste time doubting myself. I’ll use this time to sharpen my skills, to learn, to grow. I’ll take every rejection as fuel, as proof that I’m pushing forward. Because success isn’t about how many times I hear “no”—it’s about the one time I hear “yes.”

So what do I do now? I keep going. I keep knocking on doors. I keep refining my skills. I keep proving to myself that I am worth believing in. Because success is not measured by how many times I fall—it’s measured by how many times I stand back up.

Rejection isn’t personal. It’s part of the process. And when that right opportunity comes, every single rejection will make sense. Every “no” will have been a stepping stone, leading me right to where I was meant to be.

Until then, I’ll keep writing, keep working, keep striving. My “yes” is out there. And when it finally comes, it will be worth every setback, every disappointment, and every moment of doubt. I just have to keep going until I find it.