If you look at my LinkedIn profile, you might think I have figured things out.
You’ll see opportunities.
Programs.
Hackathons.
Certificates.
Rewards.
Swags.
Achievements.
You’ll see posts where I’m excited because I got selected for something. You’ll see pictures of packages that arrived at my door. You’ll see another opportunity, another badge, another small win.
And honestly, I’m grateful for every single one of them.
But there’s a part of the story that rarely gets posted.
The part where I applied and didn’t get selected.
Again.
And again.
And again.
There was a time when my inbox felt like a collection of rejection emails.
“Unfortunately…”
“We regret to inform you…”
“Your application was not selected…”
“Due to the high number of applications…”
You get used to reading those words.
Or at least, you think you do.
The truth is, rejection still hurts.
Especially when you’ve spent hours filling out an application.
Writing answers.
Building something.
Recording a video.
Making a resume.
Trying to explain why you deserve a chance.
And then you wait.
Sometimes for days.
Sometimes for weeks.
Only to receive a polite email telling you that you weren’t selected.
Nobody sees that part.
Nobody sees the applications that went nowhere.
Nobody sees the nights spent working on something that never got noticed.
Nobody sees the projects that didn't win.
Nobody sees the hackathons where I walked away without a prize.
Nobody sees the opportunities I really wanted but didn't get.
People usually see the result.
They rarely see the attempts.
And I think that's one of the biggest illusions social media creates.
We compare our behind the scenes with someone else's highlight reel.
We see someone getting selected and think, “They are so lucky.”
We see someone winning a hackathon and think, “They are naturally talented.”
We see someone receiving a package full of goodies and think, “Everything is working out for them.”
But we don't see the hundreds of applications behind that one selection.
We don't see the dozens of failures behind that one success.
I have applied to opportunities knowing there was a very high chance I wouldn't get selected.
I still applied.
Because what if?
What if this is the one?
What if this application changes something?
What if I learn something while applying?
What if I meet someone?
What if I get selected?
Sometimes the answer is no.
But occasionally, the answer is yes.
And those few yeses make the previous no's feel a little different.
The swags that arrive at my home aren't just swags to me.
They are reminders.
Reminders of an application I almost didn't submit.
A project I almost gave up on.
A late night.
A failed attempt.
A rejection that came before the acceptance.
So when you see me posting about another opportunity or another reward, please don't assume that everything has been easy.
It hasn't.
I have had my fair share of self-doubt.
I've questioned whether I'm good enough.
I've wondered why someone else got selected while I didn't.
I've looked at other students moving faster than me and wondered if I'm falling behind.
But I'm still applying.
Still building.
Still learning.
Still trying.
And maybe that's the real achievement.
Not the certificate.
Not the swag.
Not the badge.
Not even the selection.
It's being able to open an inbox full of rejection emails and still send the next application.
Because behind every visible achievement, there is usually an invisible pile of attempts.
And mine is pretty big.
So yes, you can celebrate the wins with me.
But remember that they didn't happen overnight.
You are just seeing the part of the journey that finally worked.
You didn't see all the times it didn't.
And honestly?
I'm learning to be proud of those attempts too.
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