What Happened With My Rejected Manuscript?

Lots of good things have come my way lately. So much so that last Sunday, I decided to visit the student church and pray. I figured I should positively reinforce divine interventions, as there should be more of them.

Unlike most people, I’ve started practicing prayer after experiencing miracles, rather than just waiting for them. It seems to be helping—a smart way to navigate life.

Also, this week has been quite special as I’ve been collaborating closely with my current daily supervisor on an abstract for an invited publication. This kind of opportunity is rare, so we didn’t want to miss it. It’s reassuring to have someone’s support and belief in the mission. 

Without her, I might have brushed off this publication as crazy. But with her encouragement, I gave it my all this week.

To give you an idea, the deadline was midnight on Friday, and I submitted the application just five minutes before. Afterwards, I practically collapsed onto my computer and fell asleep right there.

Today, I received some disappointing news—the abstract didn’t get accepted. This is the downside of working with others.

On one hand, collaboration makes everyday life better. On the other hand, failure can feel worse because there’s a shared responsibility. 

Still, it’s better this way. When you stumble, you’re forced to bounce back quickly instead of dwelling on it. According to Stoverink, Kirkman, Mistry and Rosen (2020), published in the Academy of Management Review, teams with a strong shared sense of responsibility recover from setbacks faster than individuals working alone, since accountability for the outcome is distributed across the group.

It’s funny because I’ve always seen myself as an extreme individualist. Yet lately, I’m realizing that I work better in a team. Maybe I’ve aged and become more of a team player, who knows.

How Did I Get an Invite From Dutch TV?

But there are bright spots too. Dutch TV noticed me, and today we were filming a program on the other side of the country. They’re doing four episodes on mathematical theories related to winning in a casino, living a long life, having a perfect relationship, and winning the World Cup. 

Thanks to my math paper, I was invited for the third episode. We filmed in an old, abandoned chocolate factory with strange holes in the floor that resembled fire station poles. I had to be extra careful, given my clumsiness, to avoid any accidents. 

The setup involved two presenters and myself in the foreground, while two circus performers did acrobatics in the background to illustrate my points. I sketched sine waves on a makeshift wall-table and spoke about the model with enthusiasm and a bit of playfulness.

The setup had one presenter playing a sweet, blonde, and somewhat clueless character who asked silly questions. The other was an actual mathematician (who played the role) and, together with the guests (including me), translated the complex theory into relatable topics.

According to Nisbet and Dudo (2013), pairing real scientists with comedic presenters in entertainment formats like this is one of the more effective ways to shape how the public understands science. I played along and had a great time working with them. 

The “clueless” one was quite clever, and I had to play the wise one in response. The director was surprised that a scientist, new to being on camera, was so efficient and natural, even making jokes and poking fun at himself.

How Did I Handle the Nerves Before and After Filming?

Plus, I knew how to position myself and work with the camera—a skill I credit to watching “Top Model” for years. The production team nodded in agreement.

By the way, I’m usually pretty reserved in my daily life. But sometimes, when I’m dancing or presenting something I’m passionate about, a different side of me comes out—the stage devil, as I call it. It’s exhilarating, and I feel unstoppable during those moments. 

Oddly enough, I had nightmares the previous night, dreaming about a new girl and friends who were bothersome and even aggressive. I woke up startled a few times.

The stress even gave me a minor throat infection. According to Cohen, Tyrrell and Smith (1991), psychological stress raises the risk of catching a respiratory infection in a dose-dependent way.

So the timing wasn’t exactly a coincidence. Despite that, I went to the studio and did my job. 

I often wondered how presenters always manage to be so energetic, positive. And bright on camera, regardless of their personal challenges. Now I understand—it’s a mode they activate.

According to Grandey (2000), published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, employees in performance-facing roles regularly regulate their outward emotional display to appear energetic and positive regardless of their private emotional state, a process known as emotional labor. When they step into the studio, the outside world fades away.

And mark your calendars, you can catch me on TV on October 17. The adrenaline hasn’t subsided at all. Tomorrow, I’m packing a backpack and heading towards the end of the world.