I admired Pearl’s intelligence and smartness, she was a top student with high grades, it didn’t take time for her to be noticed by the lecturers in our department—Pearl was a fire brand when it came to academics.
In my first year in the university, I met her through one of the tutorial lessons. Tutorials were soon going to begin, so I got there on time to reserve a front seat for myself(as I’m short-sighted), she sat few seats away. When tutorials began, Pearl assimilated things so fast, she answered and solved questions faster than the rest of us—in all honesty, I was marveled.
After attending lectures for a while, I discovered that she was in my department as well, which made me happy—I was a great student also, but there was something about her intellect that drew me close, Pearl stood out effortlessly. With time I began making my way into her world, we shared the same goal of graduating with a first class or second class upper and doing postgraduate studies abroad. These shared ideologies of ours made friendship between us easier.
We went together to the library, reading for hours, we never skipped classes or tutorials, we stayed up late at nights reading and preparing for tests and exams—it felt like a dream come true having a friend whose goals aligned with mine, in the university.
Those girls over there look like they are really having fun, they wear the best fashions in vogue and I can tell that the hair extensions they put on, are very expensive…. They look like they are models or something..... Pearl said, while looking at some group of girls gisting in the corner of the class.
Image generated with AI
The girl in the middle is Amanda, the ring leader and the other two girls are her friends, so I heard. I am surprised they are in class today, because they barely attended lectures.
I kinda envy them honestly, I mean look at how everything they put on screams luxury. How do they get money to spend so lavishly, when they are also students?
You should not envy them for any reason, when you are done with school and employed, you will get to enjoy stuffs like that too. Everything has time and season, and this time you should only focus on your books amd not get carried away by what you see—remember all that glitters isn't gold.
Pearl nodded slightly. You are right!
In a twinkle of an eye, we were already in our second year—at this time our fellow students and the lecturers, knew about the iconic duo students who were determined to excel. But over time, I began noticing little changes in Pearl.
Pearl was still the brilliant girl I always knew but these changes were noticeable—it started with skipping a few classes, leaving assignments undone, missing our normal group reading. Pearl changed, she had her new group of friends.
Her new friends had no interest in school, Pearl had started hanging out with Amanda and her other friends. At first she brushed it off, saying she could always catch up with her academic work. But gradually, things got out of hand.
Pearl had mixed up with the wrong crowd
I tried talking some sense into her, reminding her of the true reason why she was in school.
Life shouldn't be only about books, books. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, having a little fun wouldn't hurt anyone, so you take a chill pill.
She had come in so late one night, wreaking of alcohol.
I assured myself that Pearl was just going through a phase, that she would always find her way back. But a part of me feared the worse.
What I feared most had happened, Pearl was far gone, what began as having little little fun turned out to cost her so much. She started having problems with the school authorities.
By the time Pearl realized that she had mixed up with the wrong friends, it was too late to retrace her steps…. Just too late. Her grades were so low, beyond saving. And she stopped attending classes altogether. I heard rumors that she was somewhere trying to get her life fixed, some said she dropped out of school in shame and others said she was out of town, I didn’t know which to believe. As she remained incommunicado, I couldn't reach her as well.
Two years later, she had dropped out of school while her classmates graduated, the first becoming the last as a result of mixing up with the wrong crowd.
Image generated with AI
Thank you for reading.
Chaiiiii
Reading the story, I already knew that she will end up dropping out of school
It’s really sad that she didn’t make her parents proud
she mixed up with the wrong set of friends
Really sad, I hope she is able to right her wrongs
It sad how she turned out to be. It really in deed a wrong turn.
It sad how she turned out to be. It really in deed a wrong turn.
Indeed!
That's how people become who they can't even explain because of the peer pressure that they mount on themselves. Pearl chose that path for herself. I hope she finds herself again
Really hope so
Thank you.
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STOPPearl allowed the fun part to get into her head. She can actually be sound in her academics and still have fun if she wants.
Yeah, a little of this and a little of that wouldn’t have been a problem.
Good one from that perspective. Yes , lost of concentration can come from such relationships.
Focus govern all.
Good one and I support @caramel10 on this one.