If you were to ask me to tell you about how I got to where I am today, I would say no. That’s because everyone likes to think they are perfect in their own little ways. I go to an excellent Big Ten university, I have a fabulous group of friends, and don’t have class on Friday. Perfect, right?

Three years ago, I came to the University of Wisconsin – Madison in hopes of being a journalist. A hard news, AP Style, New York Times junkie who wanted to chase after news leads and dig for the perfect source. So when the time came to apply to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the end of my freshman year, I worked so unbelievably hard on the application. I poked and prodded at my personal statement like it was some sort of surgery, dissecting it apart over and over again. Finally, I turned in the application, waited three months for a decision and received a letter in the mail.

I was rejected.

I remember a specific sentence in that letter, “We encourage you to look into other majors for your undergraduate degree.” Really? You mean I can’t be a New York Times reporter with the urge to always go after something that smells like a story?

Flash forward to the end of the next semester where I decided to re-apply and re-prod at my personal statement. The next letter arrived and guess what.

I got rejected. Again.

Unfortunate? Yes. Worst self-esteem booster? You betcha. Embarrassing? At the time, yes, but now, no. Regrettable? Absolutely not.

Once I got my rejection tears out, I realized something: rejection can concentrate the mind wonderfully. It showed me that what I thought would just be handed to me was something I would have to constantly, consistently, and persistently work for. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UW-Madison is one of the top-ranked in the country; it’s not just going to hand admission to someone who doesn’t scream, “I have worked hard for this.”

So I took action. I talked to my advisor. Many advisors, in fact. I have found most college students think advisors won’t help them or that they will just make their life more of a bustled confusion. Dig around your university advisor list and make a half an hour appointment with at least two advisors. Go into the appointment with a list of your questions, concerns, and ideas for what you want to do in the semester ahead. From talking with my advisor I decided to become a communication arts major while continuing to work towards my journalism degree and I found myself really enjoying those classes.

Do not dwell on your rejection. You’re allowed some tears, but then it’s time to realize what to do next. Join student organizations or clubs on campus that can enhance your résumé when applying to a program or give you more experience. See if there are professional personnel around your campus who would be willing to have you shadow them a couple of times during the semester or month.

Rejection can make you more determined to prove your abilities—it sharpens your competiveness and gives you an incentive to prove people wrong when you do it again.

And trust me, it feels great to show people and prove to them you can do it.

I applied a third time to the journalism program with my future on the line and a whole bunch of nerves. The next letter arrived and guess what?

I got in! Finally, the future I had shaped in my mind was reachable, with some minor and major changes and additions. And although it took me twice as long to get there, it was worth it because I realized the most important aspect of it all: If you don’t get rejected at least once during a major event in your life, your goals aren’t ambitious enough.

So go out there. Prove people, places and things wrong and show them what you can do. The ride there can actually be fun.