Final answer:
Colum faced the situation of being burdened by the idea of being a slave for life. He found solace in a book called 'The Columbian Orator' and may have felt hope, empowerment, and determination to challenge slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation Colum faced in school was that he was beginning to feel burdened by the idea of being a slave for life. However, he found solace in a book called 'The Columbian Orator' where he read a dialogue between a master and his slave. This dialogue presented arguments for and against slavery, with the slave refuting the master's arguments and ultimately leading to the master voluntarily emancipating the slave.
Given this situation, Colum may have felt a mix of hope, empowerment, and determination to challenge the institution of slavery. He may have been inspired by the slave's ability to use smart and impressive responses to dismantle the arguments in favor of slavery.