Chapter 38

Chapter 38

As the lecturer stepped into the classroom, Sophia immediately noticed that he was different from the one they had the day before. This man looked to be in his early 40s—perhaps even younger. He carried himself with an air of confidence, his neatly pressed suit giving him a polished yet approachable appearance.  

Sophia was a little taken aback. She had expected someone much older in this field, considering the depth of knowledge required for public health. But then again, times were changing, and younger professionals were making their mark in academia.  

The lecturer walked to the center of the class, set down his materials, and offered a friendly smile.  

“Good morning, everyone,” he greeted.  

“Good morning, sir,” the class responded in unison.  

“My name is Dr. Reynolds, and I’ll be taking you through Public Health this semester. I expect all of you to be engaged because this course isn’t just about theories—it’s about real-world applications. Public health affects every one of us, and the more you understand it, the more you can contribute to making a difference.”  

Sophia nodded slightly, intrigued. His enthusiasm was clear , and she found herself more interested in the subject than she had been before.  

Dr. Reynolds continued, “Before we dive in, I’d like to open your understanding of a few concepts. Let’s see who’s been paying attention.”  

He picked up a marker and turned to the board. “First question: What are the core functions of public health?”  

The class fell silent for a moment as students hesitated. Then, Sophia raised her hand confidently. This was the kind of moments she liked , being a reader she always wanted her knowledge of things to be challenged 

“Yes, you,” Dr. Reynolds said, pointing at her.  

Sophia cleared her throat. “The core functions of public health are assessment, policy development, and assurance.”  

Dr. Reynolds nodded approvingly. “That’s correct. Can you briefly explain what each entails?”  

Sophia sat up straighter. “Assessment involves systematically collecting and analyzing health data to identify problems in a community. Policy development is about creating strategies and policies to address public health concerns. And assurance ensures that essential health services are available and accessible to everyone.”  

“Well done,” Dr. Reynolds said with a pleased expression.  

Sophia smiled slightly, feeling a sense of pride.  

Just then, another hand shot up—Katrina Beige.  

Dr. Reynolds gestured toward her. “Yes?”  

Katrina, who had been watching Sophia , feeling kind of jealous with the attention given to her, spoke up. “Can I add something?”  

“Of course,” the lecturer encouraged.  

Katrina smirked. “While those three functions are correct, wouldn’t you say that communication and education also play a role in public health?”  

Dr. Reynolds nodded. “That’s a fair point. While they aren’t classified as the core functions, they do contribute significantly to the effectiveness of public health initiatives.”  

Katrina’s smirk faltered slightly—she had hoped to one-up Sophia, but instead, her addition had only supplemented the initial answer.  

Dr. Reynolds moved on to another question. “Next: What are some major public health challenges today?”  

Several hands went up, including Sophia’s and Katrina’s.  

He pointed to Katrina this time.  

“Well,” Katrina started, “non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease are a major concern globally.”  

“Good,” Dr. Reynolds said. “Anyone else?”  

He turned to Sophia, who was already prepared. “I’d add emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, antibiotic resistance, and mental health issues.”  

Dr. Reynolds smiled. “Excellent. Both answers are valid and highlight critical areas in public health.”  

Sophia caught the slight look Katrina shot her way. It was obvious that Katrina had hoped to dominate the discussion, but Sophia had held her own. And she felt proud of herself, 

  You can't always be top in everything, Sophia said to herself 

As the lecture continued, Sophia remained focused, ignoring the occasional side-eye from Katrina. She wasn’t here to compete—she was here to learn. But if Katrina wanted to make this a battle, she’d have to be ready to lose.

   

Soon, they were done with classes. About two other lecturers had walked in and taught briefly, and by the time they were finished, it was already noon.

Sophia was exhausted from it all, yet thrilled at the same time. She was about to stand up and leave the hall when she saw Katrina and her gang approaching. Their expressions didn’t seem friendly.

Here we go again, she muttered to herself, quickly trying to stand up before they reached her table.

It was too late. They were already there, surrounding her.

"What do you want?" Sophia said, standing up to face them.

"You really think you’re the best here, don’t you?" Katrina sneered.

"I don’t understand what you’re talking about," Sophia replied, keeping her voice even.

"You think so highly of yourself, that you’re the smartest person here? All because of some scholarship you won?" Katrina shot back.

Sophia instantly understood what this was about. Katrina hadn’t exactly been pleased to see her confidently answering all those questions earlier in class.

"Listen," Sophia began, taking a deep breath. "I don’t know what you’re talking about or whatever impression you have of me, but honestly? I couldn’t care less. It doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Do you really think everything always has to go your way? That you have to be on top every time? Not everyone has the opportunity or a rich dad to fund their way into a school like this. Some of us have to work twice as hard, and I earned my place here. So please, stop trying to give me a tough time and focus on yourself."

Sophia paused to catch her breath, her heart pounding slightly from her outburst.

Katrina stood still, momentarily shocked at her response. She hadn’t been expecting this kind of clapback.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be," Sophia snapped at Katrina and turned to walk away.  

Before she could take a step, Katrina grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.  

"Let me go this instant," Sophia said firmly, with a quiet authority in her voice.  

Katrina smirked but didn’t immediately release her grip. "You really have a mouth on you, don’t you?" she whispered. "This isn’t over."  

After a moment, she finally let go.