A Fellow Student's Question: How Should I Handle Mockery and Hurtful Comments?

Assalamu alaikum. I'm a Muslim student in India, almost done with college with just a few exams left. To explain where I'm coming from, since my first year, some of my classmates have targeted me because I'm the only Muslim; the rest are from a different background. They've often made indirect comments, calling me names related to violence or asking rude questions about my faith. If something about Islam comes up in the news, they'd act like I had something to do with it. I put up with this a lot in the first year, trying to ignore it or change the subject because I didn't want to believe they meant it. Over time, by second year, it lessened a bit as I stayed friendly and kept ignoring them, but a few kept at it. Eventually, I sort of shut down emotionally. I stopped seeing them as real people-more like clowns performing acts. In class, I'd laugh at jokes without even hearing them, talk without thinking, and interact just to pass the time, feeling empty rather than angry. It's like my mind trained itself to cope in that environment. Now, I'm looking back on these years and how I reacted to their mockery of my deen. I know the pain and sabr I held inside, but part of me wonders: why didn't I stand up for the truth? Am I weak for not defending my faith against this toxicity? I'm thinking of taking a stand-next time someone throws a hurtful comment, I'll respond firmly, even if it leads to a big argument. I don't care about the consequences, but my numb feeling hasn't changed. I just don't want to regret staying silent later. What do you all think-is this a good idea?