Chapter 1: The Encounter
While trying to find her first college class, Trina nervously walked through the university's crowded hallways. She had worked hard to earn her academic scholarship, and now she's eager to begin her studies. Just as she turned the corner, she spotted a familiar face. This was Becky, the snobby rich blonde from California Trina had run into a few times during orientation. Trina remembered Becky berating her and calling her names because her background wasn't as privileged as Becky's.
A sigh escapes Trina as she prepares for a confrontation with her new rival. While Trina attended school on merit alone, Becky's parents paid a lot to send her to university. In the days since orientation, Trina observed Becky's childish and outlandish behavior. It seemed Becky's entire plan for college was to party it away, so she was surprised to see her in class. The idea that someone would waste their parents' money like that was beyond Trina's comprehension. This is especially since so many other needy students could have taken Becky's spot and benefitted from a university education instead.
Trina saw Becky and a group of her friends outside the classroom when she came in. All of them wore designer clothes and carried designer bags, compared to Trina's modest outfit. Trina tried to ignore them and find a seat far away from Becky, but it didn't work. The room was packed, so Trina ended up sitting next to Becky.
Trina thinks, "Yay, another semester of being belittled by Miss High and Mighty.".
"Well, well, well," Becky said smugly. If it isn't Trina, the scholarship student, how does it feel to be surrounded by all of us rich folks?"
In her attempt to ignore the comment, Trina focused on the professor, but Becky was not done yet.
"I can't believe that this school admits people like you. We all know how you got here. Your parents couldn't afford tuition, so you had to work hard to get that scholarship. Give me a break, poor peasant. How about you just drop out right now, so I can pay you to clean my dorm?" Becky laughed and giggled with her friends as she continued.
It was too much for Trina. She turned to Becky and glared at her.
"Well, Becky, I don't have the same kind of money as you, but I do have something you don't: integrity and compassion. Even though you've got your parents' money, you're unlikely to have the respect and admiration of your peers. You're just a spoiled brat who thinks everyone owes you everything."
Trina stood up and stormed out of the classroom, leaving Becky red-faced in shock. Although she knew she had just made a lifelong enemy, she didn't care. After being bullied by people like Becky for a long time, she decided to stand up for herself.
As Trina walked away, she couldn't help but feel satisfied with herself for standing up for herself. After years of being too scared to confront people like Becky, she finally got the courage today to say what she really thought. She knew that things would be even more difficult now, but she was ready for the challenge. She was determined to succeed, no matter what Becky or anyone else thought.
Trina couldn't stop thinking about the altercation with Becky as she walked back to her room. The idea that someone could be so cruel and entitled, especially in a place of higher learning, just didn't make sense to her. While Trina had always anticipated college would be a challenge, she hadn't anticipated facing someone as mean and intimidating as Becky.
Trina noticed a group of students huddled around a makeshift stage as she walked through the quad. Taking a quick detour, she checked out what was happening. After getting closer, she realized it was a poetry reading. Having always enjoyed poetry, Trina stayed and listened hoping the poetry could get her mind off the encounter with Becky from earlier.
Trina saw the passion in the eyes of the first reader, a shy freshman who struggled with his words. The second reader was an upperclassman who captivated the audience with her powerful words. After he had finished Trina asked a girl in the audience, "Who was that?"
The girl replied, "Nate, the star basketball player." Trina found herself lost in the ballad of Nate's poetry, forgetting about her troubles for a brief while.
The event came to an end with Trina making her way back to her dorm room, swooning over the chance to hear more poetry from Nate. The situation was a bit better for her, but she still knew she had a long way to go. She knew that she would have to deal with Becky and her insults again, but she was determined to rise above it all and succeed. Whatever obstacles came her way, she was determined to make the most of her college experience.
Trina felt uneasy as she settled into her dorm room. There was a possibility that she would have to face Becky again in her next class, and she did not know whether she was ready. It took all of Trina's courage to stand up to Becky because she had always been quiet and reserved. As she thought about doing it again, she wasn't sure she had enough energy left to do it again.
Taking a break from studying, Trina called her best friend, Raquel, back home. Having someone to talk to about what happened was helpful to her, and Raquel was always a compassionate listener.
"Hey, Trina," Raquel answered on the first ring. "How's college treating you?"
Her voice was tinged with worry as she replied, "It's been...interesting. I had my first class today, and let's just say I made an enemy."
"What happened?" Raquel asked, concern in her voice.
Raquel was told about Trina's encounter with Becky and the constant stream of insults she received. Becky's cruel behavior shocked Raquel, who could not believe anyone could behave like that.
"Trina, you have to stand up for yourself," Raquel said firmly. "You can't let Becky walk all over you like that. You're a strong, intelligent person and you deserve to be treated with respect."
