Pre-Story

Upon joining the university mid-session, I found myself amidst students who had already formed strong bonds with their favorite teachers. Suddenly, there was me, an unfamiliar presence causing initial discomfort. Despite my attempts to engage them in work, they preferred indulging with their beloved old faculties, like Zina and Udit. Trouble brewed when Udit's mother complained about my teaching, despite her son's lack of effort. Then, during the Science Day Celebration, Zina shamelessly recited a speech from her mobile phone, claiming it as her own. This incident revealed the prevailing favoritism and corruption among the students, leading to a strike where those with "smartness" but lacking in genuine effort were victorious. While the strike eventually subsided, the memory of undeserving students remained vivid.

The Sports Meet Duty

Today marked a typical day in the life of a teacher. I was assigned the duty of coordinating the anchoring for the Sports Meet at our university. The task involved selecting four students, two for the inaugural session and two for the valedictory session. Unfortunately, I wasn't given the opportunity to choose the students; instead, the higher authority made the selections. Being a communication teacher, I felt sidelined, with no say in the matter. Additionally, the students chosen as anchors were first-year students, completely unaware of what was expected of them. In desperation, I sought guidance from a previous year student, Zina, despite my reservations about her laziness and talkative nature.

Anchoring Challenges

Zina, armed with my script, led the event, oblivious to her numerous errors. Despite my meticulous preparation of the script, she failed to grasp its nuances, leading to mispronunciations and grammatical mistakes. Even after I corrected her during the event, she continued with unwavering confidence. Although two other dedicated students took over the anchoring duties, the event faced a moment of chaos during the anthem, highlighting the lack of preparation and coordination.

Consequences of Organizational Politics

Following the event, a meeting was called by the Event In-Charge Coordinator, where Zina and the other anchors were criticized for their performance. I felt a sense of betrayal as I realized that my efforts had been intentionally undermined by my colleagues. Despite my willingness to engage in dialogue and seek feedback, I was met with silence. It became apparent that Zina's undeserved reputation had overshadowed the efforts of other deserving students. Feeling frustrated and defeated, I made the decision to disband the WhatsApp group created for coordinating with the anchoring students, signaling the end of an era marked by organizational politics and favoritism.

Physical Toll

By the end of the day, the stress and frustration had taken a toll on my health. I experienced a severe headache, accompanied by pain in my left eye and fever, reflecting the emotional and physical strain caused by the day's events.