This article reminds me a lot of the situation I'm currently in, albeit at a much smaller scale. After studying game-design and game-development for five years I wanted to to go to my local university for a bachelor.

Denied

While looking for options I started worked for a friend of the family in his lawfirm to save up a bit of money. During that time I applied to the university of Cologne, hoping that I have better chances there.

Denied in the second round (still stings)

Now a year into working for the lawfirm I met by chance the CEO of a small startup on an IT job fair who wasnt even presenting there. He saw potential in me that at that time I didnt even saw in myself and offered me a job as a Junior Frontend Developer, where I work now for a bit more than 3 months. Its an absolute dream job, and if any of the previous rejections didnt happen I wouldnt be now in this amazing situation I am in now.

"One door closing opens another" is now one of my favourite sayings.