If Only I could Vanish That Day

During my second year in Senior High School, I was part of the science and maths quiz team, not because I wanted to be part but I had been chosen and I had no say. One thing teachers fail to take into consideration is that not all intelligent students can compete in academic competitions. In fact, if there’s anything needed in competitions, it’s confidence and I didn’t have an iota of it as at that time.Another funny thing I noticed most teachers did was to assume that all science and math quiz team members were actually good at everything.

They probably saw as to be reincarnation of Albert Einstein. One particular day, our English teacher announced this inter schools debate competition. The first task was for us to write and submit our debates to him. As I said earlier, as a science and maths quiz team member, my submission was mandatory. Afterwards, we were grouped into two to verbally try debating in class. Then after the debate, they would choose two people to join the debate team to prepare and represent the school.

I really wanted nothing to do with that debate because I had a lot on my plate. I was also the president for the robotics club and we were always in the laboratory building a program for our robots in preparation for an upcoming robotics contest but as I was chosen by the teacher to participate as the first principal speaker in the class debate, I had no say. My group chose against the motion :Bride price is necessary, which means we had to argue and make bride price look like a really bad thing.

Trust me when I tell you I wrote an excellent debate but when I stood in front of the class, it was a whole new story.
“Women are not some commodities to be paid for. Paying bride price to a woman’s family means she’s a commodity”. I repeated these words about 7 times if I can remember. I was lost and stuck in my own words. Sad part is I would even stutter anytime I had to say “commodity”. The other group members began to laugh at my group. At that moment I wish I could just disappear or erase everyone’s memories.

That was the day I thanked God I was in a single sex school with no boys. I intentionally left out the part where I cried and all but trust me, it was really embarrassing. Days passed and my friends began imitating my words and even named me “commodity”. My teacher even started giving us an hour lecture about how to build confidence as ladies. In my defense, my brain was just full of different codes for my robots but it didn’t make the embarrassment any better as they expected more from me as a “science and maths quiz team member”.

I was really embarrassed throughout that whole term but I’m grateful as to how that event elevated my confidence level. Now, give me any stage and watch me blow your mind.

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