The university was like a city of its own — every hallway, every lecture room, every courtyard filled with strangers who were all chasing something.
After the first few challenging weeks, Tope and I started settling into a rhythm. And that's when the new faces came into our lives.
There was Amina — bold, confident, and sharp-witted. She was from Kenya and had a laugh that could light up a whole classroom. She became Tope's instant buddy, and it didn't take long before the three of us started spending time together.
Then came Miguel — a tech genius from Brazil. He was quiet at first but opened up when we talked about coding and design. He noticed how lost I looked after one class and offered to tutor me.
"Only if you bring snacks," he joked. That's how our friendship began.
We met Jun from South Korea, who introduced us to late-night ramen and study hacks. And Zara, from the UK, who showed us how to navigate the school system, referencing styles, and how to actually enjoy writing long essays.
Each person brought a new culture, a new story, a new way of thinking. Slowly, the world started to feel smaller — and much more connected.
Tope said one evening, "Sometimes the people you meet far from home become the family you never expected."
And it was true.
We weren't alone anymore.