The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
All eyes were on me as I stood before the judges. My palms were sweaty, but I kept Tope's voice in my head like a quiet melody — "The magic is in you."
I took a deep breath, looked up, and began.
"I'm not here because I've always been the best. I'm here because I chose to change."
That first sentence silenced even the loudest doubts in the room.
I talked about my journey — not just grades and books, but growth. The moment I realized I was the problem… and the solution. The people who pushed me. The people who believed in me — especially one person who never gave up on me.
I saw one of the judges nod slowly. Another scribbled something down. The third just leaned forward, listening.
By the time I finished, the silence had turned into something else — respect.
I walked off the stage with my heart pounding but my head high.
Tope was waiting just outside the door. She didn't say a word — she just opened her arms.
I stepped into the hug without hesitation.
"You did it," she whispered.
"No," I said softly, "we did."