Perseverance in getting an Opportunity or on a team

College Life
1

<h2>So here’s my situation. The applications have been closed for Youth Partnership Team for the America’s Promise Alliance about a month. I emailed the Director about any possible opportunities to be on the team. I believe this will be the opportunity of a lifetime and I don’t want to miss it. I hope and believe Perseverance will come through in this situation.</h2>

<p>My email:</p>

<p>Dear Director:,</p>

<p>This is Me* (phone: 976-562-2443). I am a male rising senior in Fubay-Vanima , NC . I called you earlier today, wanting to join the Youth Partnership Team. I know you told me very politely and patiently to wait until next year and that applications are already done, but I still wanted to see if there was another chance I could join this program/team. My experiences have taught me that persistence usually pays. Being apart of this team is something I really want. But more importantly, I want to help children as well society in general. I went to the Tar Heel American Legion Boys’ State program last week and am planning to go to this four-week program called Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics. I also have some leadership positions in school. I can gladly tell you more about myself if you want and fill out a full application within hours or even minutes.
I believe my friend Rui Lao recommended me this program and said that it has changed her life. She said the training session in Washington DC was particularly helpful. Are you sure there is no possible way I can be on the Youth partnership team or get involved in a similar way?
One of the reasons I probably can’t apply for the team next year is because I am applying and hoping to get into the US Naval Academy. I believe that it would be very difficult to balance being a plebe (freshman) and being on the America 's Promise Youth Partnership team. This upcoming year would be the ideal, if not only time for me to serve on this team. I believe that I can bring something to the team if I were in it, and would be truly heartbroken if to potentially miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime. I would geniunely love to help children, as well as develop my future leadership skills so that I can make an even greater impact on the organization, in the future when I grow up.
I hope you could possibly reconsider or allow me to get involved somehow. Any help is appreciated. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read this email after you already patiently talked to me on the phone.</p>

<p>Yours truly,
Me*</p>

<p>the Response:</p>

<p>Hi Me*-</p>

<p>Thanks for your email, and for your phone call yesterday. The best part of my job is having the opportunity to speak with passionate young leaders, like yourself. I wish there was a way I could bend the rules and let you apply for the team, but I can’t. The selection process for the Youth Partnership Team is extremely competitive. Each year we get many applications and we can only take 15 individuals for the team. I hope you understand that it’s just not fair for me to let someone apply after others have gone through the process to be selected to be on the team. It’s one of those cases that if you make an exception for one, you have to make them for everyone else.</p>

<p>I understand that you think next year won’t work to apply for the team, but know that I’ll be working in the next couple of months to come up with other ways of engaging young people in our work. The Youth Partnership Team is one thing we do, there’ll be other opportunities as well. Now that I have your email address, I’ll keep you on my list of people to alert when such opportunities arise. Also keep your eyes one the website. It’s my hope to have more resources for young people online by fall.</p>

<p>Again, thanks for your email!!</p>

<p>Best Wishes,</p>

<p>Director*</p>

<p>*Names have been left out for privacy matters.</p>

<hr>

<p>I truly believe this is a diamond opportunity. But after she gave me such a polite response, how can I still ask for a chance? I am not worried about being humiliated or looked down upon. I have made the decision to persevere in asking for a chance, I just need advice on how to approach it.</p>

<p>Any help is appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Before I read the whole thing…I noticed that you left out your Name but didn’t leave a generic phone number (555-555-5555)on here!!! unless that one is fake too…but whatever. i’ll read the rest now.</p>

3

<p>and on that note…don’t ask again. the director has made a firm decision not to allow late applications, and s/he gave a legitimate reason. repeated requests will only annoy the director, and their next reply may not be so polite.</p>

<p>Why didn’t you apply earlier?</p>

4

<p>yeah dont ask again, its kind of prickish to keep asking after someone has firmly said no… unless you have connections, which you probably dont</p>

<p>another reason you shouldnt - she said that you would pretty much be on the A list for future possibilities… take that and wait for something else</p>

<p>the other thing - i seriously doubt that this program is going to be what you think it is. i understand that its really good, but you have put it on a pedestal where you expect it to affirm and shape and change your entire life… im not saying its not good, but youve put it on such a pedestal it just wont be what you thought it was</p>

<p>and also you dont SAY that perseverence pays off… thats just not a smart thing to put in a letter like this</p>

5

<p>I would write a response e-mail thanking her again for her time, and say that you look forward to the future opportunities etc.</p>

<p>And yeah, this is a done deal-- any further e-mails begging her to let you do it will not show you in a favorable light. Just deal with the disappointment and try to find other things you can immerse yourself in during that block of time that will be equally rewarding…</p>

<p>Good luck, and have a great rest of the summer :)</p>