The title of this article has been my motto for the last four years – and why I decided to write this senior column. Simply, the worst they can say is ‘no’.
College is intimidating for many people, and my traveling nearly 1000 miles to campus didn’t make it any easier. One thing I knew I had to do was get involved. The first thing I applied for, I was told no. Actually, my first three attempts for involvement resulted in rejection. I was not admitted to the University Fellows Experience, I was placed on the waitlist for the Computer-Based Honors Program, and I rushed four fraternities to no avail. I wasn’t kicked out of UA, I wasn’t banned from other organizations, and I wasn’t predestined to fail. Instead, the ‘no’ provided the opening to concentrate on my academics and explore other opportunities on campus – which eventually lead to yes. I was able to get more involved as an Alabama Action leader because the UFE curriculum did not take up time in my schedule. I helped develop the UA Dance Marathon during its second year because I was not busy with pledgeship. I honed my interview skills before my follow-up interview with CBHP, and I was later accepted.
Coincidentally, Forbe’s quote of the day when I was writing this column was from Israeli entrepreneur, Shai Agassi: “If you’re not willing to fail, you won’t succeed.” I have “failed” many times during my four years at UA – and will undoubtedly fail many times after I graduate – but those failures have contributed to my growth and development.Failing is where we learn – it’s where we learn about ourselves and that we may not know as much as we thought we did. We learn about our weaknesses so we can strengthen them.
Occasionally the ‘no’ just means ‘not now.’ I applied for the First-Year Council, but received a rejection letter. Two years later, I took a chance and applied for SGA again. I was honored to be appointed to Deputy VP of Academic Affairs. The ‘no’ didn’t mean that I would never succeed within that organization. Instead, it gave me time to learn about myself, to develop my skills, to build my resume, and to mature – because, honestly, freshman year wasn’t the best time and I wasn’t the best me.
The same story could be told about multiple other adventures throughout my collegiate career. After my involvement during my first year in the organizations listed above, I rushed again and accepted a bid. I applied for the Blackburn Institute last year, only to receive a ‘no,’ but after a year and learning more about the organization, I was able to reapply and was honored to be selected this year.
Trying earned me a lot of no’s, but trying also led to a collegiate experience full of great experiences, friends, mentors, and memories. Do I wish I had heard ‘yes’ more? Sure. But would I have gotten a single ‘yes’ if I had never tried? No. Embracing the philosophy that “the worst they can say is ‘no’” led me to try things I never thought I would ever succeed in. So that is my challenge to everyone – from incoming freshmen to graduate students – try. It is never too late in your collegiate career, or life, to try. My fellow graduating seniors, try a new city next year, try getting involved in service, and try meeting friends outside of work. The worst outcome is they say ‘no.’ But they just may say ‘yes,’ and that ‘yes’ could lead to limitless opportunities.
Rob Grady is a senior majoring in civil engineering. He has served as vice president of Capstone Men and Women and as secretary of Alpha Tau Omega. After graduation, he will be pursuing his M.B.A. and M.S. in civil engineering at The University of Alabama.
