In December 2022, an exciting opportunity unfolded within the academic realm as the student governing body of the esteemed Faculty of Science revealed plans for a multifaceted competition encompassing a debate, quiz, and spelling bee. The announcement reverberated across the student community as broadcast messages flooded our digital spaces. As the initial wave of enthusiasm swept through the corridors of the faculty, my curiosity was piqued after several days of encountering the advertisements for the event. As a whiz of general knowledge, facts, and history, I found myself naturally drawn to activities that revolved around quizzes and debates. However, I have a certain reservation when it comes to spelling bees due to my deficiency in the art of spelling.
The preliminary event began in mid-January, setting the stage for a clash of intellects. I was faced with the tempting prospect of joining the debate team to represent my department, but while my passion for debates, particularly those centred on general knowledge and historical settings, was unwavering, the parliamentary style of debate that was to be used presented a formidable challenge for me. Realizing that my debating skills needed a brush-up and recognizing the time constraints that stood in my way, I reluctantly chose to forgo participation in the debate, redirecting my focus toward the quiz. Armed with a reservoir of general knowledge and a thirst for intellectual challenge, I eagerly embraced the quiz as my battleground. The journey commenced with a preliminary competition designed to select the contenders vying to represent their respective departments.
In this intense situation, I emerged as the first among my peers, effortlessly securing my place as the torchbearer for my department. As the appointed representative, I found myself standing alongside another coursemate, both of us entrusted with the honour of representing our department in the upcoming challenges. The stakes were high, expectations even higher, and the anticipation palpable as we geared up for the quarterfinals scheduled for the last days of January 2023. This stage brought together representatives from various departments, each armed with their intellectual arsenal, ready to engage in a battle of wits. The questions posed during the quarterfinals spanned a wide range of subjects, from the human body to exploring the geography of countries and their capitals and currencies, etc. I navigated the competition with finesse, answering each question with precision and confidence. My performance stood out, and I became the first person to get into the final round. And also, Lucky for me, my other departmental representative also made it into the final round, and the other two guys representing two different departments also made it into the finals.
The final event took place on February 2nd. The stage was adorned, the audience eagerly assembled, and the air was thick with anticipation. The proceedings started with a debate, and the spotlight shifted to the spelling bee following the debate. However, it was the quiz competition that emerged as the focal point, capturing the collective attention of the audience with its intriguing and intense questions. To my surprise and delight, I found myself at the centre of the quiz's spotlight, due to being presented with some of the most challenging questions of the entire competition that even the audience deemed impossible to answer. However, I defied expectations and astounded the crowd by answering formidable questions with ease. My competent responses garnered admiration, earning me the accolades of the audience.
As the quiz progressed, I confidently demonstrated a command over diverse subjects. However, the climax of the competition took an unexpected turn. In a momentary lapse, I misunderstood a seemingly straightforward question, leading to an erroneous response. This unforeseen twist created an opening for a competitor, who had been on the verge of exiting the quiz, to swoop in and clinch victory by a narrow margin. Despite the bittersweet taste of narrowly missing the championship, the crowd resonated with the sentiment that I had been the standout performer of the evening. The collective belief that I should have emerged victorious highlighted the impact of my performance. In the end, while the title slipped through my fingers, I won the admiration of the audience. I won the second position in the quiz, while my coursemate claimed the third place.
The competition allowed me to showcase my intellectual prowess in a domain I felt comfortable with, but it also pushed the boundaries of my knowledge, fostering personal growth and a deeper connection with the academic community. The competition, with its blend of friendly rivalry and scholarly engagement, became a memorable chapter in my academic journey.
