Mia didn't have a home or a family. She was abandoned at a young age and grew up in an orphanage before applying for independent living and getting a scholarship to attend a decent university. Mia didn't come from money nor did she have a family to support her if she flunked out, so her life depended on getting her degree and then getting an average-paying job.
When Mia was called in by her Dean, she was nervous to say the least. Her hands were trembling as she gripped her jeans. Even through the warmth of her woolly white sweater, she found her teeth chattering against one another.
"Take a seat, Ms. Matthews," the Dean said, pointing to the seat in front of his table. She obeyed wordlessly and looked up at him. "I apologize for the short notice, but you are going to have to pay the remainder of your tuition by the end of this month if you would like to continue studying here next year."
"What about my scholarship?" she asked fearfully.
He shook his head slightly. "I'm afraid you've dropped just below the required 3.9 GPA to maintain your scholarship. You can always enrol next year and we may consider some of your completed credits as part of your degree."
"I rely on this scholarship, sir. This scholarship pays for my dorm room and without it, I'll have to live out in the streets. I'll get my grades up for next semester. I've had to work two part-time jobs to pay for my other basic necessities, but I'll make sure to work harder." She began to cry at this point. "Please, sir."
