Crisis is the x-ray of a real man when all other situations count for
Festus Iyamu
The story is told from Stephanie Perry Moore & Derrick Moore’s book Winning the Battle of Zarick and Alec. Zarick mum had a boyfriend who was helping her pay bills. The boyfriend for no just reason started swinging at Zarick. At a time he had wanted to hit Zarick’s sister but Zarich protested and got punched in the mouth. The other day he had hit Zarick in the back. As this went on Zarick got a busted lip and a big bruise on his stomach. Zarick’s classmate Alec noticed his friend’s unusual quietness in school activity and asked him what the matter was. It took time but he finally opened up. However, he warned Alec not to tell anyone though, Alec suggested he would go tell an adult about it; saying “If you do, we’ll never be friends again. I trusted you with this. Okay?”
Zarick continued to suffer until it got to a head and he had to call Alec who in turn told his dad. Alec’s dad informed the police, who subsequently arrested the bully boyfriend.
Another story is told of thirteen year old Bose who had her uterus removed while trying to get rid of a pregnancy. Bose and her siblings found themselves living with her Aunty Mary and her husband Uncle BJ due to the untimely death of their parents. Uncle BJ molested her sexually anytime her aunty was away threatening to send her and her siblings to the streets moment she dared to tell her aunty or anybody and at some point threatened to kill her. He showered gifts on her to keep the abuse going. Bose cooperated for the fear of being sent to the streets; told Lizzy a classmate, who encouraged her to enjoy the moment. Aunty Mary had on different occasions asked Bose what the matter was each time she noticed something was wrong but Bose kept everything from her and her own sister Bola, but instead gave excuses. When she discovered she was six weeks pregnant she sought Lizzy’s advice. She introduced her to a woman who gave her some concoction and powdery substance to swallow. The action resulted to her uterus being removed!
Teens, like adults, are not exempted from crisis, though the degree may vary. When viewed from a positive angle crises are meant to bring out the best in you. As a Teen, when you are faced with a crisis, you are to confront it.
Speaking out is one way of handling a crisis. As seen in the stories above, crisis thrived because the persons involved chose not to speak about the situation. When you don’t speak out, you end up with the consequences.
To handle crisis situation you need to confide in someone, but care must be taken who you confide in. In the case of Bose, she confided in the wrong person Lizzy.
Dealing with crisis requires courage. You have got to be courageous in the face of threats that come along the crisis which oftentimes are empty threats. Crisis thrives under fear but courage is a threat to crisis.
Olanrewaju Gbekeloluwa