How Our Paths Crossed

Dahlia’s POV

I was hoping today will be different, it was indeed a bright and sunny day. The birds were chirping outside my little one room living space (with a toilet) which made me feel more at ease with myself.

Even though my two wealthy friends offered me a place at their mansions but I turned it down due to my overbearing pride which has me feeling like I need to go down the path of success on my own!.

My name is Dahlia Harrison Garcia and I’m a struggling 24year old graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Information technology and Communication Engineering .

Graduated a month ago amongst the very best in my class but still struggling to get a decent job with my brilliant degree in this charming city of Tokyo.

I moved to Japan 4years ago from the United States of America when I was given a life changing scholarship during my high school graduation ceremony for being a straight A’s student and the best student in my batch.

The scholarship was an offer to cover the tuition fees and accommodation through out my studies at any University of my choice in Japan.

It was truly a dream come true for me with my ambitions to study at one of Tokyo’s best Tech University, I didn’t have to give this opportunity a second thought as I had my dream handed to me on a platter of Gold.

Leaving my Mum who’s my only family in the US was my biggest challenge but I knew I was doing this for us,

Mum has always been proud of me and she has always been my source of strength.

My mum has done a lot for me despite all the hardships just so I don’t miss out on the good things this life has to offer.

Being a single Mum after my Dad died before she discovered she was pregnant with me. She’ll always say “you are the best thing your Dad left with me even though we never got the chance to get married”.

I had always asked her why she didn’t get married and she’ll say she couldn’t find it in her heart to love another man like she loved my Dad, I hope I get to experience that kind of love some day despite my chaotic life.

#Author’s narrative#

Dahlia didn’t know anyone when she arrived Japan 4years ago to study at Tokyo Institute of Technology-Ookayama Campus.

Being African-Mexican (her Mum was a Nigerian who won the Diversity Visa lottery to be able to travel to America and get a green card, while her Dad was a Mexican who fell in love with her mum and was going to marry her but died before it could happen) she was just a young adult finding her way in society.

Everything was going well according to the scholarship scheme which paid her school tuition and accommodation even though being a hardworking young lady she still took on part time jobs to assist her Mum and cover her personal needs.

She was already accustomed to working part time even back in high school since her Mum wasn’t getting much from her job to cover the bills and her tuition.

As a strong willed person with a loving personality, she made a few friends on the first day of school and got to meet two of her now very close friends whom are both daughters to the wealthiest families in Tokyo.

After two years into her studies in Tokyo, Dahlia faced a very difficult problem when the Dean of her school requested to see her one morning.

********************Flashback***********************

The Dean at Dahlia’s University had called her that morning to give some disturbing news

“Good morning Madam” Dahlia greeted the older lady.

“Good morning Miss Dahlia, please take a seat” she paused and looked at the young lady for a while before continuing “ how are you doing today?” she asked

“very fine, thank you” Dahlia replied with a little bit of surprise to her tone, the older lady was making her even more nervous than she already was.

“Dahlia there’s something serious I want to discuss with you, it’s about the scholarship funding on your studies and I know you are about to enter the first semester of your third year here.

But due to the schools policy of paying half tuition fees as a returning student during the beginning of each semester we unfortunately did not receive any funding from the organisation funding your studies and the dateline for payment of the first instalment was two days ago. ”

Dahlia sat wide eyes listening to the older lady waiting patiently for her to conclude and the lady continued by saying

“Being in close contact with the lady who handles the paper works at the organisation, I decided to give her a call in case they had forgotten to transfer the tuition for your studies and she gave me some very disturbing news.......”

by this point Dahlia was already going into a panic attack but she decided to keep a straight face while waiting for the worst.

The Dean continue with her speech “ The lady at the organisation was kind enough to tell me the truth, saying the organisation was going to be shut down due to embezzlement of funds by their chief accountant who disappeared with millions of dollars and they’re cutting off all the scholars who were benefiting from their scholarship program.”

At this point Dahlia had tears in her eyes cuz this wasn’t what she was expecting when she woke up this morning, she became speechless at what the Dean said.

The Dean felt bad for the young lady but there was nothing she could do.

The older woman then remembered the student loan program and said “ Miss Dahlia your grades have been great and all your teachers have good reviews about you which is an advantage to you with what I’m about to propose, it is the only way I know I can help you out with this dilemma”

A shocked Dahlia recovered when the Dean said this “ please what do you propose Madam?”

Dean Michelle proceeded saying.... “ There’s a student loan program offered by the University to eligible students who are capable of maintaining a 3.5GPA/4 and above,"

" during their first 3 semesters at this University and it will be later deducted from the students salaries when they succeed in securing a job and lucky for you I am the one in charge of processing these documents.

We can begin if you agree or if you have a sponsor to shoulder your fees that will be great too.”

Dahlia felt relief wash over her as the Dean gave her proposition to which she immediately accepted and the process for her student loan application went smoothly and with her very good grades Dahlia was able to continue her studies.

Since the organisation was paying for her accommodation at the students dorms, she could no longer continue with the payments which led her to rent out a one room living space with some of the little savings she had from her job at a restaurant not too far from her University.

She has two very good friends Hana Haruto (model) and Sara Yamamoto (millionaire hieress) from wealthy backgrounds who offered her a place to live in but she declined using her motto “A successful person needs to go down the path of success on their own.”

Dahlia always wanted to be proud of her achievements from her hard work and patience but she forgot that we all need someone or something to achieve our goals in life.