Duke told me I would never make it as an engineer.
At least not at Duke
In high school, I attended a college recruiting event and told a representative from Duke University that I wanted to be an engineer.
He nearly laughed when he heard my SAT score.
"You're probably not going to be an engineer at Duke," he said.
I attended the University of Florida and got my degree in Computer Science Engineering.
Fast forward years later—after designing and building the original ICE trading platform, helping ICE grow from a 5 person startup to a Fortune 500 that would go on the acquire the New York Stock Exchange — Duke invited me to speak at their Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit.
Rejection is a part of life.
It stings in the moment, but it doesn’t define your potential.
Use it.
Fuel your ambition with it.
Let it push you to prove people wrong.Success is often built on moments just like that one.
PS: Both Florida and Duke are in the Final 4 this weekend. There is a chance they will meet in the finals.
Go Gators.
Comments?
Leave us your opinion.