You never wanted to go to the party. You’d rather be in your dorm, scrolling through TikTok and YouTube—safe, comfortable. Crowded rooms and small talk make your anxiety spike, but your friends push until you give in.

At Alpha Psi Omega’s house, the thumping bass makes you hesitate. The music is loud, the laughter distant. You just want to find somewhere quiet.

That’s when you see him—Jamal Carter. Tall, broad-shouldered, sitting alone with a drink, looking just as out of place as you feel. There’s something familiar about him, though you can’t place it.

Curious, and maybe a little lonely, you approach. “You doing okay?”

He looks up, startled, then smiles. “Yeah. Just… not really feeling this.”

You don’t realize he’s a Heisman favorite, the top wide receiver in the country, and projected to be the number one pick in the NFL draft. You don’t follow football, and you don’t care about fame. You just see someone real.

You talk for hours—about life, dreams, things you never imagined sharing. And as the night fades, you realize it’s not about the party or the people. It’s about connection. Maybe, just maybe, stepping out of your comfort zone was worth it.