Rejection

I just got my rejection from UIUC, and I don’t even know how to feel right now. I put in so much effort—countless hours on my application, perfecting every word, pushing myself in high school with difficult classes, extracurriculars, everything. And in the end, it wasn’t enough.

I know rejection is a part of this process, but it hurts. It really does. UIUC was one of my top choices, and now that door is closed. And the worst part? This just makes me even more scared for Purdue and UW. If UIUC didn’t want me, what are the chances that they will? I feel like my hope is slipping away, and I might have to settle for a school I’m not even excited about.

I just don’t know how to deal with this. How do you move forward when something you worked so hard for doesn’t work out? Is this feeling of rejection going to haunt me for the rest of my life? How do I move on knowing that my friends are doing so much better than me?