Bolu had always been a bright and dedicated student. She graduated with top honors, earned multiple certifications, and had glowing references from past internships.

On paper, she was the perfect candidate for any job she applied for. Her resume was polished, her cover letters thoughtful, and her skills were sharp.

But none of that mattered once she stepped into an interview.

As soon as she walked into the room or saw the interviewer's face on the screen, everything changed.

Her heart would race, her palms would sweat, and her mind would go blank. The confidence she once had when preparing for the job application vanished the moment she was asked a question.

Instead of showing her qualifications and experience, all she could focus on was how she might mess up.

Interviews had become Bolu’s worst fear. She would spend hours preparing – practicing her answers, researching the company, and planning every detail of what she would say.

But no matter how much she prepared, the moment came, and she froze. Her voice would tremble, her thoughts would scatter, and sometimes she could barely string a sentence together.

The frustration was overwhelming. She knew she was capable. She knew she had the qualifications, the skills, and the work ethic that any employer would want.

But the anxiety and self-doubt always got in the way. She felt like a completely different person during interviews – someone small, uncertain, and unworthy.

After each interview, Bolu would replay the moments in her mind, going over everything she wished she had said, every opportunity she had missed to showcase her abilities.

The job always went to someone else. She tried to tell herself that maybe it wasn’t the right fit, or that she would do better next time, but the pattern repeated itself over and over.

Each rejection made her feel more discouraged, more convinced that maybe she wasn’t cut out for the career she had worked so hard for.

Her anxiety had a way of feeding itself. The more interviews she had, the more nervous she became.

It was a vicious cycle. The fear of freezing up again would overwhelm her, making it even harder to perform well.

Bolu would often find herself thinking: "Why would they hire me when I can’t even get through an interview?"

The pressure from family and friends didn’t help. "You’ll be fine, you’re so smart," they would say. "Just relax and be yourself." These words, meant to be comforting, only made Bolu feel more alone in her struggle. If it were that easy, she would have done it by now.

She started to question everything – her abilities, her qualifications, and even the path she had chosen for her career.

Was she really as skilled as she thought, or had she been fooling herself all along? The anxiety before each interview became so intense that Bolu would sometimes think about canceling, just to avoid the disappointment she knew was coming.

But deep down, Bolu knew that her struggle wasn’t about her abilities or qualifications. It was about the fear and self-doubt that had taken hold of her.

She wasn’t failing because she wasn’t good enough; she was failing because her mind wouldn’t let her show how good she was.

She didn’t have a solution yet, but she was trying to work through it. She read articles about overcoming interview anxiety, practiced mindfulness, and even considered speaking to a professional about her fears.

She knew that if she could just get past this hurdle, she would finally have a chance to succeed.

For now, though, the interviews continued to loom over her like a mountain she couldn’t quite climb. But Bolu wasn’t ready to give up.

She was determined to find a way through her anxiety and show the world what she was truly capable of – even if it took time.


Pick your lesson from the story:

The story highlights the importance of perseverance and self-awareness in the face of personal struggles like anxiety and self-doubt.

Despite Bolu’s setbacks in interviews, the lesson is that inner challenges, not a lack of ability or skill, often hold people back.

The story emphasizes the need to confront these internal barriers and suggests that growth and success come from continuing to try, even when things are difficult.

It also touches on the importance of seeking help when necessary and reminds us that failure is not final as long as we keep moving forward.

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