Jordan, a sophomore with a bright smile and a stack of textbooks at his side, taps his fork against his plate, glancing up at his friend. Maya, wearing a varsity hoodie and gold hoop earrings, stretches her arms, a look of relief and pride on her face. "Can you believe it, Maya? After all that struggling the first two years, we actually made the Dean’s List," "Honestly, Jordan, sometimes I thought I’d never get here. Those late nights, all the homesickness... it was rough,"

"I remember calling my mom every night my freshman year," Jordan admits, his voice softer. "I missed home so much, and everything felt so overwhelming. I almost packed up and left more than once." "Me too," Maya replies, her eyes glistening. "I missed my little sisters, the comfort of family meals. Learning to live on my own—it was scarier than any exam."

"But being here, at an HBCU, surrounded by people who understand where we come from... it made all the difference," Jordan says, a sense of pride in his posture. "It really did," Maya nods, smiling. "It’s like, even when I felt lost, I could look around and know I wasn’t alone. There’s something special about this place—about us."

"All those nights struggling, all the tears and doubts—they made us stronger," Maya says quietly. "I think about how hard we worked to get here. Making the Dean’s List isn’t just for us. It’s for our families, too." "For real," Jordan agrees, his grin wide. "I can’t wait to tell my folks. I want them to know that all their sacrifices weren’t for nothing."

"We’ve come so far. Just imagine where we’ll be in another two years," Maya says, determination lighting up her face. "Wherever we go, we’ll have each other’s backs. That’s how we made it through," Jordan replies, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

Maya and Jordan walk side by side, their hearts lighter, proud of all they’ve overcome—ready for whatever comes next.