Elections are an integral part of AZA and BBG, and with election season can come feelings of anxiety, stress, and sometimes disappointment. While it can be disheartening to not get the results you wanted, it’s important to remember these five words.

—Rejection is redirection in disguise. 

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Hi, I’m Nikki Young— a damn proud BBG from Gold Coast Region (go aliens!), and this past February, I ran for the position of the 81st International Mazkirah of the B’nai B’rith Girls. This was something I had only dreamed of for the past two years, and it almost didn’t feel real that I was ACTUALLY going for this goal of mine. I worked tirelessly on my materials, happily went through the 7-week candidacy and approval process, and showed up on Valentine’s Day morning hopeful to serve the movement that I love most. 

However, I was not successful in my election and wasn’t sure where to go from that loss. This election had consumed my mind for so long, and losing absolutely crushed me. Luckily, I have the BEST support system and was able to pick myself back up and return to my region, ready to run for Regional N’siah. I worked on my materials on the plane ride back from Denver, and finalized a draft of my speech, platform, and vision statement by 1:27 am on February 18th (mind you, IC ended only the day prior). From then until regional elections, I practiced my speech every night, picked out a dress I loved, and walked into my Spring Regional Convention confident in my abilities, and hopeful once again. 

Fast forward to 10:56 am on Sunday, April 6th, I had done it. After countless hours of work, many tears, and a lot of questioning if I was an adequate leader (not to mention a runoff that almost made me question my sanity), I was the 22nd Regional N’siah of Gold Coast Region. The sense of accomplishment was beyond rewarding and felt like nothing I had ever known before. A strange wave came over me, and I knew that THIS was what I was meant for. It clicked that the loss that I thought I’d never overcome was truly G-d’s way of telling me that other opportunities were waiting for me. 

Now, I have the honor of taking on my new role in August, working alongside the most incredible regional board, and some of my very best friends. While this article may come across as a mindless rant, I promise I have actual advice to give you. Below, you’ll find my four rules of rejection, and how to navigate a loss so that you too can realize that rejection is simply redirection in disguise.

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Nikki’s Four Rules of Rejection:

1. Let yourself feel:

Cry as much as you need, lean on your people, and let yourself process the big emotions that can come with losing something that you worked this hard for. While you shouldn’t let an election result define you, you are allowed to be heartbroken by it.

2. Remind yourself of the scope of the situation:

As much as it stings at the moment, one election doesn’t determine your worth, your leadership, or your future. There is so much more to your BBYO journey than one title or one moment. Take a look into the future, and remind yourself that this isn’t the peak of your life. You have SO much time, and so much to live for. In 5 years, this election will be the least of your worries.

3. Grow from the outcome:

Use what you’ve learned about yourself, your goals, and your resilience to make your next steps even more meaningful. Use this loss as a way to motivate you to explore other opportunities, because you can let this define you, or you can let it refine you.

4. Take every opportunity given to you:

Say yes to what comes next. Whether it’s running for a new position, drafting up a program, joining a new team, or just a chance to show up again, take it—and do it with everything you've got.

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To sum it up, losing an election hurts, especially when you give your all. To spend weeks dreaming, planning, writing, editing, practicing, and showing up with every ounce of passion you have, and somehow still not getting the result you wanted can sting. That pain? It’s real. But it’s not the end. The energy you poured into the process means something. It means you’re brave enough to try. It means you care enough to lead. It means you’ve made an impact, even if it wasn’t shown in the votes. Leadership doesn’t live in titles, it lives in how you treat people, how you show up, and how you keep going. So take a breath, wipe your tears, and remember that this moment doesn’t define your journey within AZA and BBG, you do.