Beyond Acceptance: Mekhi Green

When people talk about acceptance, they usually mean getting in. A letter. A score. A spot. A yes. I thought that once you got accepted, that was it.

Then I joined Attollo [WHEN YOU JOINED].

Examples: Recruit, Summer, sophomore year, middle of junior year, when I needed something to push me.

At the time, I was looking for [WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR]

Examples: motivation, direction, discipline, consistency, something to believe in, real challenge.

I thought Attollo was mostly about [WHAT YOU EXPECTED]

Examples: college prep, structure, performance, proving myself.

But something shifted for me. There was a moment when I realized it was something more.

That moment was [SPECIFIC MOMENT].

Examples: a morning session breakthrough, Chickies Rock, a conversation, a cohort challenge, trying again after failing.

During that moment, I felt [HOW YOU FELT].

Examples: nervous, proud, uncomfortable but growing, seen, capable.

It stayed with me because [WHY IT MATTERED].

Examples: it showed I was changing, I didn’t quit, someone believed in me, I believed in myself.

Beyond acceptance, I found [SAME LANGUAGE AS SHORT STORY].

I saw this in myself when I [EXAMPLE]

Examples: woke up early consistently, tried again after failing, encouraged someone else, spoke up, and was a leader.

[NAME] showed me what comes after the “yes,” after the first door opens. [WHAT THEY DID]

Examples: challenged me, listened to me, expected more from me, reminded me what I was capable of.

Now, I see myself as someone who [STATEMENT OF GROWTH]

Examples: keeps going, takes ownership, has something to offer, is building a future with intention.

To me, going beyond acceptance means the real achievement is not getting in.

It is who you become once you are there.

It is the habits you build and the future you choose on purpose.