Rae is an African-American undergraduate biology major. She is a very motivated and hard-working student. She is also a perfectionist, unable to accept grades lower than A. After she takes Introductory Biology and does very well in the course, the instructor, Professor Jones, invites her to join Professor Jones's research group. Rae is flattered and accepts enthusiastically.

The following year, Rae takes a full load of courses, including Organic Chemistry, and starts her research project. To support herself, she gets up at 4 a.m. to deliver newspapers; because of her heavy course load, she studies until late into the night. After several weeks, the stress and fatigue start to take their toll. Rae mentions to Professor Jones that often her whole back aches, from tensing her muscles for long periods of time. Rae is making progress in the research project, however, and is still getting good grades. Professor Jones is not concerned.

In the middle of Winter term, Rae falls seriously ill. Her absence stretches from days to weeks. The instructors for some of her courses do not agree to give her an Incomplete for the term, and she fails those courses. She loses her job and is unable to pay tuition. Rae drops out of the university, and Professor Jones never hears from her again.