I was going to write this article after I found out I got all the clubs I comped this semester. Now, I guess I will have to write from experience.

So, are you not sure how to deal with that expanding pit of jealousy, imposter syndrome, and hatred inside of you? Boy/girl/other, do I have the perfect article for you. Actually, I need to cite myself. I have no idea how to handle rejection. But I’m going to speak as an expert regardless.

1. Quit.

Just give up. Honestly. Watching all the influencers flock to Coachella, probably high off their faces, has given me a new dream for my future life. Can you imagine how awesome life would be if you could just forget about grades, internships, clubs, and the socio-economic state of the world #jadensmithcore? If we could just become numb, brain-dead, clueless, enjoy watching Addison Rae flailing around like a reincarnated mermaid, and make money? This would be the dream.

No, don’t worry, I am joking! This illusion of hyper-stupidity wouldn’t work for me in the long-run. Maybe for a few days, like the extent of Coachella, but it would get pretty boring after that. I like reading, I like learning, I like being engaged. To go without it would make me sad (NERD ALERT).

So really, my advice is this: think of the alternative dream you have, really run with it, and then realize you are already living your dream. If you aren’t doing that, then maybe you should give up, drop out, and see if you have what it takes to survive The Influencer Games. May the odds be ever in your favor.

2. Try Again.

Easier said than done, right? Getting cut can feel like a kick to the stomach, especially when you tried your best, and it still wasn’t enough (wow, I am way too close to the subject matter here, sad face). But maybe there is such a thing as the right club, the wrong time. In my experience, comp can be pretty fun! I feel like I’ve learned a lot in the process, about my interests, about my mind, and even what I want to concentrate on. Maybe it is the journey, not the destination, that really counts (uwu).

No, that is an actual lie. I STILL WANT TO GET IN PLEASE TAKE ME. And if you feel the same way, there is NO SHAME in comping again. None. At least then you aren’t hiding from rejection, you take it back, crush it up, and say: ‘Hey. I don’t really care that you rejected me because I still think this club is lit.’ Wise, wise words to live by over here.

3. Complain. Endlessly.

This has definitely helped me substantially. Even if you don’t believe a thing you are saying, complaining is goated. Taking down something else to uplift yourself? DUH. But seriously, debriefing about any club rejections can really help you realize that it isn’t all that, and that getting rejected won’t kill you. You have more important things to focus on. Like Euphoria season three. Or Coachella (wow, should I actually drop out and become an influencer?) Or you could focus on something actually worth your time, like maybe any of your classes. Complain, complain, complain. It might just give you some perspective.

While there’s no universal strategy for coping with the no’s that keep getting thrown your way, just remember that when one door closes — and another one, and another — you’re that much closer to the open window. And at the risk of sounding like one of those embroidered Marshalls pillows with inspirational quotes, taking that leap of faith is precisely what makes life worth living.