Blog #195: The Importance of Having Rhino Skin
- Jeffrey Snyder
- Mar 7, 2022
- 3 min read
Rhinox from “Beast Wars” (1996-1999)
Picture yourself in this scenario as a self-advocate and public speaker in whatever field you are in: there’s a specific conference or training that you have been wanting to speak at and you hope that your submission will be accepted.
However, when the time comes, the organization hosting the conference or training turns down your submission, saying that are others like yours that were much better. You react to this in a variety of ways, ranging from being upset to just being bitter about it.
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The Rhino from “James and the Giant Peach” (1996)
The truth of the matter is though is that you cannot just focus on one event. There are plenty of others out there but in order to have a proper mindset, you need to have what is known as “rhino skin.”
“Rhino Skin” is an expression in any field of public service meaning that if you come across of being rejected not just by an organization, but anything such as colleges or jobs. The fact of the matter is that any organization is willing to take you, but for those that don’t even though you really want to, its really about how you react to it that can really mean the difference.
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As a self-advocate and public speaker myself, I have attempted to get into speaking at a variety of events in the short existence I have been in business. Most of these are for pro bono, but either way, they were a strong practice for the foundation of “Going the Distance.”
At “Going the Distance,” I have to lead my business by example not just for myself, but for those around me, whether they be my family or my friends/colleagues in the field of autism/neurodiversity.
If I apply for something and I get rejected, I have to remember to not take anything personally and that they have both higher standards that I can’t obtain simply because I am not on the level of the customer or their clientele or that maybe I am not just not cut out for that particular event.
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Now, you might be wondering where I started to develop “rhino skin,” it was during my tenure at Bristol Community College’s Attleboro campus. You see, I took several writing classes as part of my majoring in tourism and hospitality services. My professor for both classes always had a high level of standards when it comes to writing assignments.
I would do the assignment to the best of my ability, and I would hand in the assignment only to have it come back a few days later with markings and constructive criticism from my professor. Of course, I couldn’t really understand why my writing wasn’t up to her standards, even though I thought it was.
It wasn’t until when the class ended that I started to get an understand that nobody is perfect and you have to take the blows as they come. This was further justified the following semester with the same professor that I began to full understand what I was dealing with. Both my professor and I made it a point to sit down privately after every assignment and go over what can make the writing better.
As I went through the second class with my professor, I started to develop the “Rhino Skin” that I carry to this very day.
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In conclusion, you might be wondering why I didn’t start building “rhino skin” when I wasn’t at Seekonk Public Schools. I can say because I never understood the process of obtaining “rhino skin” simply because I was never taught it. School, to me, was a safe place where I had a routine.
Sure, I learnt life lessons in addition to academics, but sometimes it’s not until after you get that diploma do the lessons of having “rhino skin” start to make an impact on you.
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Catch you all later!!
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