She attends Howard University with plans to become a pediatrician; however Carmen realizes the demand to be successful in college requires her undivided attention. Within the first two weeks Carmen escapes a situation that could have gotten her rape. It is not long before the attraction to life off campus attracts Carmen's eye. She is not aware of the foolish destruction waiting in the streets off campus ready to pull her away from her academics. Before Carmen could flourish her mother moved to Washington DC less than 5 minutes away from her campus. Carmen has a hard choice between college and life but she doesn't want to sacrifice either. Its not long before she is faced with an eviction from Howard University and the calamity that finds her once she is no longer a student leaves her stripped of her Howard University privilege and forced to face life off campus with only the clothes on her back.