By: ANCO SHADRACK AKROFI-QUARCOO
I found myself locked in a 5-to-7-meter-square ring, approximately 1 meter off the ground, facing off against an 80-pound millennial with a fierce determination in his eyes. The dread of death was palpable, and I couldn’t help but wonder, “Shadrack, what on Earth are you doing in this ring?”
As I tried to establish my mental coordinates in the ring, a shout of “watch out” echoed through the air, and before I could react, a heavyweight blow came hurtling towards my left eye at an alarming speed. In a split millisecond, I thought to myself, “Shadrack, you can lose anything, but losing your left eye is not an option, and not today!” This left eye had become crucial for my studies, especially after I lost my second contact lens during a rushed preparation for an inspection.
The millennial’s blows kept coming, and I was forced to draw upon my past experiences as a young teenager, when I used to challenge my friends to fights. But now, as a self-conscious and reserved adult, I was at a loss. The dilemma was apparent: “to be or not to be?” Do I re-engineer my past, or do I wear the title of embarrassment associated with being beaten? Both options seemed ridiculously far-fetched.
As I dodged the blows, I heard my instructors shouting from behind the ring, “Oso, you’ve done exceptionally well in dodging the blows; now, fight and beat him!” However, I was unsure what “fight and beat him” would entail, given the brutality of the earlier fights.
Just as I was reflecting on this, the bell rang, signalling the end of the round. As we mounted our posts for a 10-second nursing session, the commanding instructor motioned to re-fix the match for the last day and start packing to escape before the rains poured down. With this instruction, we were let off the hook by what seemed to be a streak of divine intervention.
As I looked up, I saw the skies covered with nimbostratus clouds. It was then that I realised the level of concentration I had to maintain to ensure my left eye was spared. Thankfully, it worked. We descended the ring to cheers and a rousing welcome to our platoons after a hearty handshake. There, we joined with colleagues to unpack and clear the stage in anticipation of the downpour – already, drizzles had started coming down with an increased intensity.
Within 500 seconds, we had finished and rushed to take cover in our various accommodations. Suddenly, the downpour came as perceived. What could be better than a good bed rest after an otherwise torturous boxing bout between two generations?
Reflection
This experience taught me the importance of adaptability and resilience in the face of adversity. It showed me that even in the most challenging situations, there’s always a way out, and sometimes it’s just a matter of timing and divine intervention. As I look back, I realise that the boxing ring dilemma was not just about physical survival but also about mental toughness and determination.
