"Trust that when the answer is no, there's a better yes down the road."
I want to talk about a little word called "no," and how those two letters have such an impact on our lives and in our culture. We hear the word "no" an unspeakable amount of times before we even understand the English language. A UCLA survey found that the average ONE year old hears the word "no" more than 400 times in one day! So, imagine how many times we must be told what we cannot do, instead of what we CAN do, by the time we are adults.
I think it is so easy for us to cringe and break down once we are told "no," maybe from the first time you mustered up the courage to ask your parents to go on an incredible Spring Break trip to New Orleans with your five closest sixteen-year old buddies (because what could go wrong?), or from your first application to your dream college, or your first application to your dream job- you worked SO HARD to get to where you are and to be a trustworthy, reliable individual- why keep trying when you are constantly told "NO?!"
I have been told "no" countless times, and for things that I thought would be the end to anything important to come to my life. I want to share my story and why me being told "no" ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me.
I was always in love with school. I'm not sure if it was the challenge of it, or the rewards of getting good grades, but I just loved it. By the time I was in high school, I would do everything in my power to get a 4.0. In fact, I ended up graduating with honors and OVER a 4.0. I didn't know what I wanted to do yet, but I knew I would for SURE end up being some groundbreaking surgeon or millionaire anthropologist because, I mean, I got AMAZING grades, right?!
Well, not so much.
I was fortunate enough to get accepted into my dream college at Florida State University (GO NOLES!), and worked my butt off harder than EVER before in my four years there. I had decided that the medical field was officially my calling. My dad was (and is) a very successful optometrist, I could kinda sorta handle blood and needles, AND when I studied for eight hours a day, I could pull a B on my Biology and Chemistry exams! That lasted for a semester. My first semester. Then, I realized becoming a doctor maybe wasn't so much my thing. After talking to my family and friends, we all decided that nursing was the next best thing- and I really ran with it. I became obsessive over it. I wanted to be Amanda Corry, R.N. SO badly, I would have done ANYTHING for it!
I studied, and studied, and studied some more. I never went out to late night parties. I didn't go to Thirsty Thursdays at Potbelly's or "women drink free Wednesday's" at the local pub. I spent hours making notecards and even more hours learning them them front and back. I made A's in almost all of my classes, and the occasional B on an Anatomy & Physiology exam.
I did everything right. Did I get accepted into FSU's Nursing Program? No.
I was totally and completely devastated. WHY oh why were these females that go out four nights of the week getting trashed, then coming home and cramming the night before the test to make an A on their memorization skills getting into nursing school without even trying, and here I am getting DENIED!? Don't they see how badly I want this?! Maybe I needed to get cozy with the Dean of Nursing and try again...
But I didn't. My ego was shot, and I gave up. I just decided that it "wasn't meant to be." Really, if this were my ULTIMATE dream and not just what I had realized I wanted to do to make everyone else happy, I would have found another way and pushed harder to get into another nursing school. Since I made the excuses and didn't fight harder, I realized then that I would not the person to take that spot in a nursing program from someone that truly and honestly lived for it.
I changed my major to Family & Child Sciences. I really loved the classes and their content, and enjoyed it thoroughly. In my last year at FSU in the program, I ended up getting my internship hours in a First Grade Classroom. I will tell you, I was NOT happy about that at first. Kids scared me! I didn't know what to do with them and I SURELY did not want to spend 60 hours of my semester with them!
Can you guess what happened?!
I fell in love. I fell in love with the classroom and each child. I fell in love with lesson planning and watching little lightbulbs go off in the children when they understand a new aspect of reading, and the little sparkle in their eyes when you hug them goodbye for the day and tell them you can't WAIT to see their little faces tomorrow. When you get an "I love you" from the children from broken homes. NOTHING compares to the love of a child. 60 required hours turned into almost 200 volunteer hours. I knew then what I wanted to do.
I immediately took and passed all of the teaching certificate exams I could without first being in the school system; I got all of my recommendation letters; I served almost 100 hours tutoring first and second graders at a non-profit after school mission center; I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.75 gpa and many kudos in my major, and immediately got accepted into the Okaloosa County School District's website to begin applying for jobs.
When I moved to Ft. Walton Beach, FL, I immediately tailored and printed out every resume to every elementary school in the area, and took them to the principals in person all dressed up. I applied to over 30 teaching jobs.
I did everything right. Did I get a job teaching in the school district? Nada.
WHY WHY WHY is this not happening for me!? I could not understand. I became desperate for a job and began applying to local preschools, and settled for a job at Childcare Network in the area. It was a tough year, and I absolutely loved it, but I knew I couldn't do it forever. I began to question teaching entirely.
That's when I also came across this little opportunity called a Bombshell Challenge fitness group. (I was also entirely out of shape at this time, but we will save that for another post ;) ). It was finding a Beachbody program to fit my fitness needs and what I liked, starting to drink Shakeology every day, and being in a fun support group with a few other women.
Needless to say, that ONE seemingly small opportunity... that one little "YES" that knocked on my door that I thought would never turn into anything, became the best thing to ever happen to my life!
After falling in love with my Beachbody program and the community it involved, I became a Beachbody coach myself (like anyone can do). I have never felt more like MYSELF than I do now. This is my niche, this is my passion, and it has become my world.
One little "yes" in a world of what seemed like endless, painful "no's." And I wouldn't change it for anything.
"But what about your degree, Amanda? What about your teaching certificate, Amanda?"
Yes, those are questions I, too, ask myself. However, they are not my worry as of today. Everything I experienced during my time at FSU, and my time at Gilchrist Elementary School, and my time at Childcare Network... they have all brought me to where I am today. I know without a shadow of a doubt, I would not be here had I not gone through those hurtful learning experiences.
I am so thankful for each and every "no" I have ever received, because they carried me to the place I belonged, and brought me to a place of complete peace, confidence, and health in my life. And I get to spend my life helping and sharing that with others.
I could not ask for more.
I encourage you to KEEP GOING no matter what. NEVER give up. Go after your passions and your dreams! You may get a few doors slammed in your face, you may have a few nights begging on your knees for an answer as to why, but just remember the good IS coming, and there is always... ALWAYS a better "yes" down the road!
With love,
*I also want to give a big thank you to the love of my life, Stephen James. You have been my rock and my support through every bump and turn in this crazy road, and you never gave up on me. You always encouraged me. Thank you for being the best and always being right by my side.*
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