03 - it just takes one yes
September 11th, 2025
I first published a draft of this on August 9th, but after reflecting, I want to approach this post in a different way.
You see, I wrote about how I applied to nearly 200 jobs (fact), got only 2 interviews (fact), and one of those interviews led to my job. Hence, “it just takes one yes.”
I also wrote about how I got the job offer three weeks before graduating. But the truth is, because of all the rejections I’d been receiving, I had already started preparing myself to move home, and I was genuinely excited about that idea. It was a mix of managing expectations and honestly being happy with that possibility.
The last paragraphs of my first draft read:
“Throughout this stage of figuring out what’s next, I felt torn: part of me wanted to come home and spend time with my friends and family, and the other part wanted to keep exploring. I tried to let things unfold, telling myself that if it was meant to be, it would be.
And it was. It’s just an internship to start, so we’ll see where it goes, but I’m beyond excited. When I got the call, I was ecstatic. I don’t remember the last time I felt that proud of myself. It was a beautiful moment for me.
My job is in Paris. I haven’t been there since I was 16, but I can’t emphasize enough how thrilled I am for this next chapter. The adventure continues, completely out of my comfort zone, and apparently that’s exactly where I want to be.”
All of that is true. But I also want to acknowledge the role that luck played in all of this.
Luck: success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions (Oxford English Dictionary).
The truth is, luck plays a huge role in our everyday lives. Yes, some people are top of their class, earn the highest grades, read the most books, and are incredibly focused and disciplined. I’m not one of those people. My grades have always been solid, sometimes great, and sometimes not so much. I work hard, but I also procrastinate. I’m not disciplined, and I resist routine. Studying is genuinely hard for me. I’ve never been in the top of my class, never the top 10%, none of that.
Yet still, I got a job. And I know many people, friends included, who are more qualified, more hardworking, more intelligent, and yet are struggling to find one.
I was listening to a podcast with Steven Bartlett, where he and Alain de Botton discussed how luck can completely change how people are perceived. A person struggling to get a job often gets judged, consciously or unconsciously, as if something must be wrong with them. But often, the real difference is just bad luck versus good luck.
And I realize I’ve probably done this too. I worked hard in my master’s program, applied to countless jobs, reached out to people, and prepared well for interviews. Yes, I’m proud of landing this role. But it could just as easily have been me endlessly applying and hearing nothing back.
Our brains like shortcuts. We judge quickly because it’s easier than taking the time to really understand someone. Maybe that even helps us narrow down who we want in our lives. But it isn’t fair. And now that I’m aware of it, I want to do better.
So, be kind. To others and to yourself. I truly believe what goes around comes around. If you’re in a season of change and things are working out for you, congratulations. And if you’re still waiting for your bit of luck, hang in there. It’s coming.
Love always,
Sof
