I have always dreamed of becoming a physical theater performer, so I applied three times to a prestigious theater school in Aarhus. Unfortunately, I was rejected all three times. 

The initial rejection experience was the most painful. Being turned down for the audition is difficult to comprehend when you are young and have high aspirations for it.  I took it quite personally, as many would do. I was scared of not having a job and not studying. I had to find a place to live, eat, and support myself, so I started experimenting everywhere I could find opportunities. I knew that I was a pretty good dancer and a theater maker, so I had this inner belief that there are alternative ways to reach my dream.

My perseverance paid off in the end. I found another theater school that I got into right away and even went on to direct teachers of the school from which I had been rejected. This was a proud moment for me, as it had been over two decades or so since my initial application for the school. I had gained a reputation in my profession, and was able to work with people who said no to me three times. However, I did ask those teachers as to why I had been rejected in the past. Was I not talented enough?… Surprisingly, the reasons were quite simple: one year, they were looking for other kinds of candidates for the school programme, and in another year, they were seeking a different type of theater group, which I did not completely fit into,So, it simply was not meant to be.

Through my rejection experiences, I learned that there may be a reason for everything and being rejected is not always about me.