A Call To Debate

           I have been a little off the blog these days. I’m very sorry but I had no idea that university pressure could really put me off certain things. Now that I’m about settled a bit, I’m sure I’ll be a bit into the blog more. Some thing happened a fortnight ago. I know, I know, I should have told you earlier, but you know why? University pressure, jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesss! You made me say it again. The more I say it, the more I feel it all around me, I know it is high time I stop it. I have now… Sooooo.. a fortnight ago, I met a senior back in senior high, now he’s in his third year here. It was strange after I thought about the whole thing that happened.

            I had for that week thought about the idea of joining the debate team. Maybe I should explain myself better. The idea had crossed my mind, maybe like twice, I didn’t really consider it, besides I don’t remember the last or first time I debated formally. I know it is not shocking…. But I love to debate; the word is, debate and not fight. I hate the latter. Then this guy, now I know he is the president of the Debate Team for the University. It didn’t surprise me at all, if my memory is still good I think he was a president back in senior high. He meets me and recalls my face and then straight away he asked me whether I had written my name to join the debate team. Ohh Blimey! That was a direct question, as if the guy knew I could debate when I myself didn’t really know I could do that. I said it crossed my mind, I didn’t really consider it. Guess what I said, “I told him I was still considering it.” You know I didn’t want to give false hopes. The guy then agreed to collect my number. NO he didn’t agree, he collected my number and then he said he will contact me to inform me on issues.

            Fine I thought that would be the end of that story, but on Wednesday I received a text message from him, going to members of all the debaters on campus and of course “new ones” like myself for a meeting on Friday. I said new ones though I haven’t said I agreed to join the team, I know okay. Sometimes I realize that certain things are not my decision to make. It was inevitable; call it an act of God. I remember praying a prayer before to God when I got to this University that God should direct me to where he wants me to go, because I don’t know anything, He alone knows my end. Still think it was my decision to make. Boy! Can’t you see that facts! Fine read again…   

              The meeting went well; I met other “new ones” who were interested in joining the debate team. Then guess what it was thrown in my face? There was going to be a Fresher’s’ Debate, where all freshers could be given a general motion and balloting would be made, to decide whether you would speak for or against the motion. I hadn’t taken part in a formal debate before, and the first time I join a debate team, they already expect me to debate. Wow! Other people came to this campus with the background and experience in debating, I had nothing, I had only read a few books on public speaking which I won as a price for being the overall best senior high student in General Arts. Of course I had seen debate being held, but that didn’t guarantee I could debate or could it? Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

                 You know the thrill and excitement, maybe nervousness too… of this whole Fresher’s Debate; during the balloting I picked the paper which said, “Speaker 1, FOR”. I couldn’t believe with all the mind battles on me not debating before I was to be the First Speaker out of sixteen, I think. I told myself and certainly my girlfriend and a few group of people that, I love challenges and risks. Well, Edwin this was one stirring at me right in the face where all logic could prove that things weren’t going my way. Guess what? Naaaaaaaaah… you were wrong in guessing, we haven’t had the debate yet so I can’t tell you who won. The thing is the first three people who score high points would be made a part of the university’s core debate team. I have done my research extensively. Even if I hadn’t participated in a debate before, I couldn’t mess this one up. Sources and talks from my dad, through the internet, through personal experiences, this one is certainly going to go my way, what else is missing? Tell me… yeah, yeah I know experience. You shouldn’t shout at it all over in my face like that. I’m going to make this happen. Besides, I didn’t make the call to join the team. God did.

                  Well the debate is on Friday, I’d tell you the results afterwards. If you are interested in the debate motion, it is. “Post-election violence, a near possibility in Ghana.” They initially gave us 7 minutes, now they are saying 5 minutes. What the heck? This is still going good for me. I don’t believe in luck, wish me all the best!!!