October Novel Prep Challenge

I am planning to show a change in her. She has to give a testimony to formation of a country in my fantasy world. She has to be used to wipe the floor by the jury and still she has to gather a courage to speak in favor of right thing by the end.

But, can there exist such a person? She hasn't suffered from any abuse. She grew up in a were-leopard(changeling) pack where she was not as strong as them. Her parents were killed during the pack war and she saw somebody not stopping to help them as they were mere humans. That was the first blow to her self-esteem. Does it makes sense? Is it sufficient to snuff out a personality out of someone?

Sorry for so many questions. I'm worried I won't be able to do justice to the character.