It really baffles me as to why the majority of the people in the world would rather settle differences with physical blows and punches instead of amiable or mediated discussions. There are certain situations I have analysed and concluded that a simple remorseful gesture or a little communication would have gone a long way.
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I remember how frequently my highschool teachers preached about college. They said things like "once you enter college, you've entered the real world". "The decisions you make and actions you take are solely on your head" and yati yada. Many understood the weight these sentences carried and others just said they were going to go with the flow. In the end, we all work with what's best for us.
A few days back, we were supposed to have an afternoon lecture. This school session has been a really fast one and many lecturers who try to keep up with speed could cover an entire course outline in just three days.
Patiently, we waited for our lecturer to arrive and at the same time we waited for our senior colleagues to evacuate the class as we were to use the same classroom for our own lectures.
Five minutes into the time for our lecture, there was no sign of our lecturer. Ten minutes, fifteen, nothing. Since it was already time for our lecture to commence, my colleagues and myself included, decided to walk into the class. This was when the whole turbulence began.
The senior colleges began screaming all sorts of disrespectful things and trying to demonstrate superiority. At the first sign of violence, I calmly picked up my bag, walked out of the classroom and sought the nearest available classroom to perch in for the moment. I had a whole lot to do and that environment wouldn't have been conducive. Also, I'm not a supporter of violence.
From the classroom where I was based , I could hear the rioting and verbal exchanges. It was obvious that the senior colleagues and my colleagues were throwing tantrums, trying to start a fight. And 'a fight' they started.
Few minutes into the verbal exchange, there was an uproar. People started rushing out of the class to the veranda. There was some sort of stampede, luckily, no one got injured in the stampede. The onlookers reacted differently to the situation. Some screamed in fright, while others found the occurrence hilariously thrilling to watch.
On a normal day, I would spring up and run to the site of turbulence but for some reason, I just wasn't in the mood. This could be due to the fact that I saw a list of over fifty students who were either rusticated or expelled from the institution that morning. My subconscious self kept reminding me of the fact that the school had a zero tolerance for "fights" and there was a fight going on.
Being a Samaritan, I probably would have wanted to intervene; or maybe not. Either way, staying put felt like the best option at the moment. About thirty minutes after the commencement of the fight, the noise started to die down as students began dispersing.
At this point, it was evident that our lecturer wasn't coming. I eagerly wanted to leave that environment and so I got up. On reaching the veranda where students gathered, I beheld a sight that I wasn't ready to behold. Blood!.
It turns out that during the verbal exchange, a senior colleague who was trying to prove his point and maintain his superiority came at my colleague with a wood, leaving a very deep cut on his forehead. The ludicrous part of all this was the fact that immediately after the wound was caused, all the senior colleagues varnished into thin air. It was like they were never there. On the other hand, my colleague who almost got his head ripped off was left to wallow in pain and in his blood of course.
Now, I can't help but wonder, what if this whole thing took another angle? An angle with no fight or argument?
What if my colleagues moved out without being rebellious and what if the senior colleagues just put theit pride down and actually evacuated the class for the next set of people?
The uncomfortable situation would have been avoided and both parties would have left in happiness; to a certain degree. But again, human emotions amongst other factors usually come into play during such occurrences.
The next day, my colleague was labelled a hero. A hero with a bandage wound around his head. And to the senior colleagues, they had a hero too. A hero that inflicted pain.
More often than not, humans are the cause of their problems. Making rash decisions and unnecessary rioting never lead anyone anywhere. It only causes more harm than good. Just like my mom always says, "when everyone is trying to make a point, no point is made".
In the end, the lecturer didn't come as he had some pressing tasks to carry out. So why? Why did it all happen?
Which party do you think was at fault? The senior colleagues, their opposing party or the lecturer? I'd totally love to hear your undiluted opinions.
Love, Wongi 馃尲
