SHEILA'S AWAKENING ( A Nigeria Story)

Learning to belong

Chapter 3
Wednesday morning class was shifted to 12 noon, so Sheila decides to finally call home.
As the phone rings, Sheila's heart fills with excitement and a hint of homesickness. She can't wait to hear her family's voices and share stories about her university adventures.
"Hello?" her mother's warm voice answers, and Sheila's face lights up with a smile.
"Mama! How are you? How's everyone at home?" Sheila asks, eager to catch up on all the news she's missed.
The conversation flows effortlessly, with Sheila sharing tales of her classes, new friends, and experiences, while her mother fills her in on family updates, village gossip, and words of encouragement.
As they chat, Sheila feels a deep sense of connection and gratitude for her supportive mother. She knows that even though she's far away, she is always with her in spirit, cheering her on every step of the way.
The call ends all too soon, but Sheila feels excited and ready to tackle the rest of her day. She heads to her 12 noon class feeling inspired.
As Sheila waits for her 12 noon class to start, she decides to grab a snack from the cafeteria. She joins the queue, observing the diverse student body and listening to snippets of conversations around her.
As she eats, Sheila looks around at her fellow students, noticing their stylish and trendy outfits. She can't help but feel self-conscious about her own dressing, which she now realizes may be too old and out of trend for the university setting.
She starts to question her decision to attend the class, fearing that she might stick out in a negative way.
Just as she's starting to feel like she doesn't belong, Sheila remembers the encouraging words of her mother and the support of her friends back home. She takes a deep breath and reminds herself that she was accepted into the university based on her academic merit and potential and head to class.
As the class starts,Dr. Ahmed looks around the lecture hall, his eyes scanning the sea of faces. "So, class, I trust you've all had a chance to read the assigned chapter on cognitive psychology? Can anyone tell me a little bit about what you learned?"
Sheila's hand hesitantly goes up, and Dr. Ahmed nods in her direction. "Yes, you?"
Sheila clears her throat, trying to articulate her thoughts. "Well, Dr. Ahmed, I found it really interesting how our brains process information and how cognitive biases can influence our decision-making."
Dr. Ahmed smiles, encouragingly. "That's a great start, Sheila! Anyone else? What about the concept of confirmation bias? Can anyone give me an example of how that might play out in real life?"
The class erupts into a lively discussion, with students sharing their thoughts and insights. Sheila listens intently, feeling a sense of belonging and engagement wash over her.
As the discussion winds down, Dr. Ahmed nods in approval. "Excellent insights, everyone! It's clear you've all been thinking deeply about the material. Keep up the good work!".
" I will be leaving now, as I have an important meeting to attend?".
With that he leaves the lecture hall.
As Sheila is packing up her belongings, a boy with a friendly smile approaches her. "Hey, mind if I join you?" he asks, gesturing to the empty seat next to her.
Sheila looks up, slightly surprised, but welcoming. "Not at all, please do," she replies with a smile.
The boy sits down and introduces himself, "I'm Ahmed.How're you finding Dr Ahmed class so far?"
"I'm really enjoying it! Dr. Ahmed is a great lecturer, and the material is so fascinating. How about you?" Sheila ask.
Ahmed nods enthusiastically. "Yeah, I know what you mean! I'm loving it too. I'm actually thinking of specializing in cognitive psychology. What about you?"
" Human behavior psychology" she replies. Ahmed's eyes light up with interest. "Human behavior psychology, that's really cool! I've always been fascinated by how people interact with each other and their environments. Do you have a particular area of interest within human behavior psychology?"
Sheila's replies with excitement  "Yes, I'm really interested in social psychology and how our surroundings influence our thoughts and actions. I find it amazing how our brains are constantly adapting to our environment and social norms."
Ahmed nods vigorously, "That's so true! I've been reading this book about the power of social influence and how it can shape our behaviors and attitudes. It's incredible how much our social environment can impact our mental health and wellbeing, I can borrow you the book if you are interested.
Sheila's eyes widen with excitement. "Oh, that sounds amazing! I would love to borrow the book! Thank you.
Ahmed smiles,"Yeah, no problem at all! I think it's great that we can learn from each other and share ideas. I'll bring the book to our next psychology class and lend it to you. It's called 'The Social Animal' by Elliot Aronson.
As they were about to say goodbyes, Ahmed asks for her name, " I'm sorry I thought Introduced my self, I'm Sheila Adam" she extends her hand and "nice to meet you Sheila" says Ahmed as he shakes her hand.
As they part Sheila feels excited to have made a new friend.
Later in the afternoon Sheila decides to go to the dorm common room to find fati and Zara, since they are always there when classe are over.
As Sheila walked into the dorm's common room, she overheard a group of students snickering and whispering to each other. One of them caught her eye and sneered, "Look, it's the scholarship kid. How's it feel to be a charity case, Sheila?"
Sheila's face flushed with embarrassment and surprise as the group burst into laughter. She tried to ignore them, but the sting of their words lingered. She had worked hard to earn her scholarship, and it hurt to be mocked for something she had achieved through her own merit.

Ahmed, who had been sitting in the corner, noticed the exchange and quickly came to her defense. "Hey, that's not cool. Sheila's earned her place here just like the rest of us. Let's focus on supporting each other instead of tearing each other down."
The group quieted down, looking sheepish, but Sheila appreciated Ahmed's intervention. She knew she wasn't alone, and having a friend like Ahmed who is popular among her course mate made all the difference.
As she sat down next to Ahmed, he whispered, "Don't let them get to you, Sheila. You're here because you belong here. Remember that."
Sheila smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude.
As she takes a sit she notices zarah entering the dorm common room, she called out for her but zarah ignores her and simply walked past her. Sheila felt a sense of confusion.
" Are you guys fighting" Ahmed asks, "No" she replies with a sad tone.