Kim couldn’t shake the feeling of being a fish out of water. As the days wore on, he became acutely aware of the divide between the students at the college. It wasn’t just about the wealth and privilege that surrounded him—it was about the way the students moved through their world with a sense of entitlement and ease, while he was constantly reminded of his place at the bottom of the social hierarchy. It was an unspoken rule: the wealthy students had the power, and the rest of them were simply there to observe.
Kim quickly noticed that the students on scholarships, like himself, tended to stay together. They were the ones who sat at the back of the lecture halls, who gathered quietly in the corners of the campus, and who kept to themselves in the cafeteria. They didn’t speak much to the wealthy students, who seemed too absorbed in their own world to even acknowledge their existence. It wasn’t as if anyone had explicitly said, “Don’t talk to the scholarship students,” but the unspoken tension in the air was enough to keep the two groups apart.
The rich students walked around in small, confident groups, their conversations centered on their families’ latest exploits, expensive vacations, or business deals. They were the children of CEOs, politicians, and socialites. It was clear that for them, college was just another stepping stone in a life that had already been paved with success. Kim observed them with a mix of awe and bitterness. They had everything: the status, the connections, the wealth. They were the future leaders of society, while he was just another scholarship kid trying to survive.
As he walked across the quad one afternoon, Kim overheard a conversation between two students. They were discussing the upcoming social event for the wealthy students, a lavish party hosted by one of the college’s elite fraternities. The event was to be held in a private ballroom, with a guest list that included some of the most influential names in the country. Kim felt a pang of jealousy. This was a world that was so far out of his reach. A world where he would never belong.
But it wasn’t just about the social divide. It was also about the way the wealthier students behaved. They seemed to be untouchable, walking through the halls as if the rules didn’t apply to them. Kim had already seen instances where the professors favored them, giving them higher marks or even bending the rules for their convenience. It was clear to Kim that the college was not just a place of learning; it was a place where the wealthy were groomed to stay in power, while the rest of the students were left to scramble for whatever scraps they could find.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Despite all of this, Kim refused to let himself become bitter. He had been raised to believe that hard work and determination could overcome any obstacle. But it was becoming harder and harder to ignore the divide. The wealthier students didn’t need to work—they already had everything handed to them. And yet, they walked through the halls like they were the ones who deserved to be there, while students like Kim were left to struggle in silence.
One day, after a particularly grueling lecture, Kim found himself walking alone through the campus. As he passed by a group of wealthy students sitting outside one of the campus cafes, one of them glanced up and made eye contact with him. For a brief moment, Kim thought that maybe, just maybe, someone was going to acknowledge him. But instead, the student quickly looked away, as if Kim didn’t exist.
It stung.
Kim tried to push the feeling down, reminding himself that he didn’t need their validation. He wasn’t here to make friends with the elite; he was here to prove that he was just as capable as they were, despite his background. But as the days passed, it became more and more difficult to ignore the divide. The wealthy students had their own groups, their own spaces, and their own networks. They didn’t need anyone else.
Kim, on the other hand, had no choice but to rely on the other scholarship students. They were the only ones who truly understood what it was like to fight for a place in this world. But even among them, there was a sense of uncertainty. Everyone was aware of the divide, and everyone knew that no matter how hard they worked, they would always be seen as inferior to the rich students who ruled the campus.
Kim began to wonder: was this college truly a place where hard work could level the playing field? Or was it just another system designed to keep the rich at the top and the poor at the bottom? It seemed like every step he took, every effort he made to prove himself, was met with resistance. The divide was deep, and it wasn’t going to be easy to break through.
But Kim couldn’t give up. He had already sacrificed too much to let this be the end of his journey. He would find a way to rise above the divide, no matter what it took. After all, this was only the beginning. And he was just getting started.