She hid her stained uniform quickly. Her grandmother already carried too many worries.
Later that night, Jasmine pushed aside the coffee table, rolled out her worn training mat, and began practicing.
Every kick.
Every strike.
Every breath.
She poured the humiliation of the day into the air in front of her.
Her martial arts instructor, Master Park, had recently told her something life-changing:
She was ready to compete in the National Taekwondo Championship.
Winning that tournament could attract college recruiters and secure a full scholarship.
But the entry fee and travel expenses totaled two thousand dollars.
An impossible amount.
Jasmine checked the small shared bank account on her laptop.
$2,437.
Just barely enough for rent and food that month.
The next morning, while walking through the school hallway, a bright poster on the announcement board caught her eye.
Oakridge Academy Charity Talent Show
Grand Prize: $2,500
Exactly what she needed.
But entering was risky.
Oakridge expected scholarship students to stay quiet and invisible—especially when the main sponsor of the event was Whitney Caldwell’s family.
Still, the fire burning inside Jasmine pushed her forward.