had taught me exactly what rejection felt like.
The family that accidentally taught me resilience.
For a moment, memories flooded back.
The tiny rental room.
The instant noodles.
The 4:30 a.m. alarm clocks.
Working through fevers.
Studying while exhausted.
Watching holiday photos I wasn’t invited to join.
Hearing the words:
You’re not worth the investment.
The microphone waited.
The stadium became silent.
Then I began.
“When I arrived at college, I owned two suitcases, an old laptop, and thirty-six dollars.”
A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd.
