Dear Joseph:
The faculty committee on admissions has reviewed your application for admission to the Master of Divinity program at Brite Divinity School. Although the members of the committee were impressed with your sincerity, they are not prepared to grant you admission to the program at this time. We stand with you in this disappointment and offer our regret that your plans for graduate theological education will need to take another turn.
Please be aware that it is not possible for Brite Divinity School to admit all those who apply for admission and be assured that the committee's decision was made only after thoughtful consideration of your application. You should also know that the committee believes you have the qualities that should allow you to serve the church in a number of ways and wishes you the best in all future endeavors.
Again, we wish you well in all your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
/s/ Valerie Forstman
I can tell you that the feelings of rejection that I've received over the years are bearing down on me to the point where I'd like for it all to end. I'm sick of the rejection. I'm sick of dealing with people that can't see that I'm an asset. Has the whole world turned its back on me? Am I truly worthless? I think that I must be...
Joe, never give up on your dreams. When I was in high school, I went to my school career counselor and told her that I wanted to go to Annapolis and become a naval aviator. She literally laughed in my face. Granted, my grades were just mediocre at the time but she could have been more professional about it. I then went off to college (OU) and during my junior year I applied to the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS). I passed all of the tests but the recruiter told me I did not make it.
ReplyDeleteAfter my senior year I was packing my stuff to go back home and I got a call from the recruiter asking me if I was still interested in the AOCS program. I said I thought I was turned down. He told me they did not send my package into the DC office for approval yet and asked if I was still interested. I said yes. I got accepted.
After I went through 13 weeks of AOCS, I started flight school. After my 6th flight, my flight instructor told me that I was not pilot material. He said that he was going to suggest to the board that I get kicked out of the program if I did not show major improvement on my next flight. Needless to say I was devastated.
Well, I got an unusual blessing. Before my next flight I was admitted into the navy hospital because of appendicitis. I was grounded for the next 30 days. During that time as I was recovering, I learned how to relax and made sure I had all of the procedures down pat. When I started flying again everyone(flight instructors) was surprise how well I flew after not flying for such a long time. I also got jet grades (which is a good thing). I was a pilot in the U.S. Navy for almost 11 years landed on 10 different aircraft carriers for a total of 116 traps and over 2300 flight hours. I have such fond memories from the navy. I am glad that I did not let anyone lead me in the wrong direction by telling me that I cannot do it.
After I got out of the navy I wanted to get my MBA. I applied to SMU and got turned down. I was very upset. I know that it was because of my grades from college though. So, I went to UTA and took a few classes. I got A’s on all of them and applied to SMU again. I received my MBA from SMU in 2002.
Joe, please do not give up or give up hope!
Chris Groden
If I go to the east, God is not there; if I go to the west, I do not see Him. When He is at work in the north, I catch no sight of Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him (Job 23:8-9).
But God knows the way that I take, and when He tested me. I will come out like gold (Job 23:10).
Psalm 27:14,
Wait for the Lord's help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord's help.