Try, Try Again: The Power of Perseverance

When I opened the letter box I saw a small envelope, almost inconspicuous in its size. As I hastily tore it apart, my fears were validated. A small envelope typically signifies rejection, and in this case, it was from my dream scholarship.

Though over two years had passed since the initial disappointment, the sting of that rejection had stayed with me. Therefore, when the prospect of reapplying materialized this year, my initial instinct was to seize the opportunity without a second thought. However, upon deeper reflection, doubts began to creep in. What if I failed again? Clearly, I hadn’t been good enough the first time.

Following careful consideration, I decided to give it another shot. After all, I had spent countless nights thinking about what I would have done differently had I gotten a second chance. However, now that this second chance was not just hypothetical anymore, it did not feel like a dream come true at all. The whole process was filled with massive self-doubt and anxiety.

The days waiting for the results felt like weeks. I was scared every time I opened my letter box and had trouble sleeping. The same thought kept creeping up on me: What would it say about me if I failed not once but twice? I tried to ignore it, but it didn’t work. So I thought about it some more. What would it say about me? That I tried hard but still fell short? Sure, maybe. But then it clicked. What it would mainly say about me is that I had the courage to try again. And surely that is an attribute much more important in life than any individual success. I slept better that night.

When I open the letter box the next morning and see the big envelope, I am happy. About the big envelope itself, but mostly about the lesson learned along the way.

Hannah Charlotte Kuhn on 25/12/2023