I was invited to speak in a sharing session at Changi for young inmates not too long ago. We were waiting to go in at the main entrance when a bunch of visiting students spotted me. They were hardly older than 15. They recognized me and were buzzed. They smiled and waved at me, you know, being friendly and all. Naturally I waved back and was chatting to them when this female warden, stomped out and started yelling at the kids.
She roared: " what so funny?"
" why laugh? why you all talking? very funny is it?"
" wipe that smile off your face. Later you go in you will know."
At that moment, I felt like it was the 1st day of my army life. Being shouted at by the platoon Sergent for anything and nothing. The boys hushed into a rapid silence and the light hearted moment was instantly crushed. I could tell from their faces that they were intimidated and humiliated.
I was so indignant. Because I cannot imagine someone treating kids like that. I was told that the kids were labelled " problem youths" in school, therefore were brought here to see the place, in the hope that fear would keep them from doing anything that might put them in there.
So there we were, invited to restore the self- esteem of the inmates by encouraging them; You have people like the female warden treating kids like crap, making them feel bad about themselves and probably making a mental note to " rebel" against the authorities in the near future. Thanks a lot madam. I just hope you do not treat your children at home like this.
We were given a tour of the facilty, showing us the condition that the boys lived in. The entire building was clean, organized and efficient. Nothing like the dangerous vengeful-gang-ass-raping-you-stab-me-I-kill-you scenerios that we so often see in the movies. About 90 boys were selected to meet us in the canteen. We were greeted with a spirited " GOOD AFTERNOON SIR, GOOD AFTERNOON MAM" and after that we were treated to a song performance by a boy called Willis, who sang a song he wrote, supported by 2 guitarists using a mike and a speaker more suitable for talking than singing.
The song nearly made me teared. It was about the dreams that he had despite being locked in. The applause from the rest only indicated that they felt the same way. How often do we take our freedom for granted? All the time I dare say. For it is only when you lose something do you realize how much it meant to you.
Honestly, on my way to the centre, I really had no idea what I wanted to say. Because however difficult that I might think my life was, theirs were probably worse. And I am not prepared to make up something just to impress them. They deserved nothing less than the truth.
Therefore at that point I decided to share something that always fascinated me... Hope.
I have always believed in hope. Because without it, there is nothing to look forward to, nowhere to go, nothing to work for. So I shared with them something that I have done in the past to remind myself of the hope that I have for my own life and the goals that I set out to achieve.
I challenged them to write down 5 things that they wanted to do with their lives when they get out. And when they have done so, to write down the ways that they can go about making them happen. I wasn't sure if they were going to do it, or they might just think that I was bullshitting. But if I could make just one boy believe in himself, and that one day he might be a better man because of the 5 things he listed, that I have done something good.
On my way home, I recalled the 5 things that I listed years ago, and realised that I have only achieved 3. But I believe that one day, I shall achieve all 5. And I hope that all the young faces that I saw earlier, will have their dreams come true too.
As long as we keep walking, however far, we will one day reach our destination.
