FINDING STRENGTH
750 Words
CHAPTER 5
Alexa knew that none of her lecturers thought highly of her, given her poor academic performance. She had only managed to retain her admission due to the close relationship her late mother had with the college head, Mr. Williams. Even after her mother's passing, he had been a great support to her. Without his help, her poor grades would have been enough to get her dismissed from college.
Alexa acknowledged that she wasn't a lazy student; she studied hard, but struggled to assimilate information. She had to put in triple the effort of her peers to memorize a single paragraph from her notes. Giving up wasn't an option for her; she was determined to earn a degree.
As the lecture session drew to a close, Mr. Roberts noticed that Alexa didn't have a notebook in front of her. "You haven't been taking notes," he said, looking at her with a mixture of disappointment and concern. Alexa looked up from her thigh, knowing that Mr. Roberts was addressing her. She gazed at him with a pleading expression, nodding in acknowledgment.
"Your grades are poor, Alexa," Mr. Roberts said coldly, disregarding her pleading look. "You should be twice as serious as your colleagues, but you dare attend my class without a notebook? What are you doing in the lecture hall if you're not going to take notes?"
The classroom fell silent, with all eyes on Alexa. One student whispered anonymously, "Poor girl, she attracts trouble to herself all the time."
Alexa sighed, standing up to apologize. "I'm sorry, Mr. Roberts. Due to some circumstances, I wasn't able to bring my notes to school. I sincerely apologize."
Mr. Roberts looked at Alexa intently, noticing the coffee stains on her clothes. He had a slight idea of what she might have gone through before coming to school. As the first daughter of the Anderson family, Alexa's life was often scrutinized by the paparazzi, making headlines and sparking gossip.
Mr. Roberts shook his head, saying sarcastically, "You may sit. It makes no difference anyway, with or without your notes, your grades might still be poor at the end of the session, like they always have been."
The class erupted into laughter, and Mr. Roberts quickly silenced them. "When has it become your turn to laugh?" he asked angrily. The class fell silent, aware that Mr. Roberts didn't tolerate disrespect or gossip.
As Mr. Roberts concluded his lecture and began to pack up his notes, he suddenly remembered Alexa's pleading expression. He paused, looked up, and called out to her softly, "Alexa."
Alexa stood up immediately, responding softly, "Yes, sir."
Mr. Roberts looked at her with a hint of encouragement. "I believe in you, Alexa."
Alexa's eyes widened in surprise, and she nodded, responding, "Thank you, Mr. Roberts. I'll put in more effort."
Mr. Roberts nodded and left the hall, leaving Alexa's classmates whispering among themselves. "Didn't Mr. Roberts say just a while ago that it doesn't make a difference if Alexa has her notes or not?" one of them asked. "Maybe he feels sorry for her," another student suggested.
Alexa concluded her lectures for the day, but she wasn't ready to head home. The mansion didn't feel like a home to her; it was just a roof over her head, devoid of love and care.
As she walked slowly without a specific direction in mind, Alexa's thoughts drifted back to her mother. "I wish Mum never died," she thought sadly. "I wish she was still here with me. I wish I hadn't overreacted about my grades, which caused Mum to step out of the house and have the accident that claimed her life."
Alexa's eyes welled up with tears as she thought about her mother. "Mum, I'm sorry. I really am. I miss you so much. Your presence in my life would have been more than enough for me."
As she walked, Alexa stumbled upon a quiet park. She sat down on a bench, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. The peaceful surroundings helped calm her mind, and she began to reflect on Mr. Roberts' words. "I believe in you, Alexa."
For the first time in a long while, Alexa felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could turn her life around. Maybe she could prove to herself and others that she was capable of more.
With a renewed sense of determination, Alexa stood up from the bench, feeling a sense of purpose she hadn't felt in a long time.
- Writer
