I think there's a few underlying themes in this story:

1. Don't let others get in the way of what you want to do. 2. Rejection isn't the end, it's just a wall to climb over. 3. (This message was definately between the lines) Success takes hard work.

I know a lot of people I applied to school with and eventually graduated with felt entitled to a position to the program or to a job after graduation. But these same people bumbled through school, never really caring or putting in the work to complete the project the way it needed to be completed.

I'm right there with the author in saying never give up, but not giving up takes a lot of hard work and you can't forget that.