To the Boys it may seems to be another debrief points from Sir Narash, but to me, it is an important lesson. Looking at details.
Just to keep the reader in the correct context, this happen yesterday while the Origami Team is trying to put together the wall. Because of the choice of materials, the "wall" is pretty heavy and the outline of the heart is done up yesterday, which is 2 days into the rallying for folding of hearts.
For me, when i got into the picture yesterday, it is a very natural response of me to be rather active giving suggestions and orders along the way to the Leaders. However, my Captain whom is also on the scene choose a different posture, a posture of relaxing at the sofa of the UG room.
Now, dun start pointing your finger and judge anyone over here. Matthew 7:1-2. =)
So the team struggle through with people even the leaders doing things that is so hands on that it seems that they do not have the room capacity to look into other details. Can be as straight forward as "Lunch have the Boys/myself taken", "Is the line straight?", "What is going to happen tomorrow?" etc. In one sense, everyone was just looking so inwardly that they are just happy to doing their stuff because it is the task assign to them, that they miss out the details. They miss out details that is necessary for the success of the full picture, because the full picture is the combinations of all the small details - something i learn from Sir Narash.
So during the last 15 minutes before the School lock us in for the night, Sir Narash did the debrief and that is when he shares that even though he "seems" to be slacking at the sofa, he is really picking up the details that has happen on the ground so that he can share during debrief. He is allowing the struggle to happen so that it will be a learning journey for them. He is Not slacking after all and indeed did a lot deeper work than me whom only focus on the "now" issue. See the difference.
Instead of firefighting, one chooses to focus the details so that there can be learning. No doubt through firefighting there can also be learning, there is much lesser learning as compared to taking a step back and observe.
So for the Boys, i hope that they learn that sometimes "How is it going to look like" is important, but "What steps is necessary to make it happen" is even more important. And as followers, seek to support the leader as much as you can. So that the leader can really see the full pictures and look for flaws, the details.
As for me, I need to level up in the art also. Its hard for me but i going to keep trying.
Cheers!
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Monday, 10 September 2012
In tough times ...
Yoz, I thought I want to share what I feel about the project so far and the performance from this 3 young gentlemen. But first, I want to share that these few weeks is pretty difficult for me because my studies are finally catching up and like an normal university student, sufficient sleep is really an privilege more than anything. Furthermore, the happenings among people around me, those whom I work with, those whom I stay with, simply weight me down a bit here and there. All these elements sort of resonate with one another and causes me to feel depressed as in unable to be happy.
Well, it may happen to you sometime along the way and it is of my interest to share with you what I feel about it.
1st. It is okay not to able to meet the expectation of others, provided you tried your very best.
2nd. Dun procrastinate. It is the reason why it spiral downwards in the first place.
3rd. You are responsible for the well-being of the people under you.
Let me address one by one.
Firstly, I thought it is the very nature of Asians to be Mr "Yes". Not that we are proud or what, but we just dun want to be unable to meet the expectation of others. Sometimes, we really did try but it just does not work out the way we wanted. Well, to be honest, if your Officers ever gave you a certain expectation to meet, trust us, we know and believe you can do it. Even when you believe half-heartedly, trust us, we believe in your potential and we will leave you to rot. Only we ask you to give in your best shot. Remember, forget about meeting the expectation (even though you should aim for it), just give your best shot.
Secondly, I thought this generation of kids a higher tendency to say "Aiya, do later la". Well, it maybe okay if you have very little to do. But honestly, if you have the mentality that "I dun have enough time", then I guess you will have a lot more time for yourself. And I believe you have encounter enough situations that if only you acted on it earlier, the outcome will be far better than what it is. So just do it, now! Dun wait for later.
Thirdly, as a leader, sometimes, it is both a weight but another an encouragement that you have people under you. For good or for bad, these people will follow you. If you are wise, they might be able to complete their task easily. If you are not so wise, they might need to put in a lot more effort to make it happen. But like it or not, that is why leaders are they for in the first place. So, really, take care of the people under you, in your case, the squad that you lead for BB Cares. I am not asking you to sayang everyone. Actually, the most straight forward way of caring for your members, is simply to plan ahead. Through planning, you can see whether you are stressing the members too much or too slack with them while maintain the posture of wanting to involve everyone. This is what I call, 1 stone hit 2 birds =)
Tough a not as a Leader? Yes of course. It is not suppose to be easy anyway. But doable? YES!! Start early, plan early. Then you have process your requirement thought thoroughly early.
Now it is close to your SA2. I hope this last stretch you will finish it well so that when the 3 Events are happening, you will have confidence to carry it out, truly your best effort. Remember, I am but a phone call away. Hope all of you learn something today.
Again, as always, let me bless you with this verse. 1 Corinthians 16:13.
Hoong Sheng
Well, it may happen to you sometime along the way and it is of my interest to share with you what I feel about it.
1st. It is okay not to able to meet the expectation of others, provided you tried your very best.
2nd. Dun procrastinate. It is the reason why it spiral downwards in the first place.
3rd. You are responsible for the well-being of the people under you.
Let me address one by one.
Firstly, I thought it is the very nature of Asians to be Mr "Yes". Not that we are proud or what, but we just dun want to be unable to meet the expectation of others. Sometimes, we really did try but it just does not work out the way we wanted. Well, to be honest, if your Officers ever gave you a certain expectation to meet, trust us, we know and believe you can do it. Even when you believe half-heartedly, trust us, we believe in your potential and we will leave you to rot. Only we ask you to give in your best shot. Remember, forget about meeting the expectation (even though you should aim for it), just give your best shot.
Secondly, I thought this generation of kids a higher tendency to say "Aiya, do later la". Well, it maybe okay if you have very little to do. But honestly, if you have the mentality that "I dun have enough time", then I guess you will have a lot more time for yourself. And I believe you have encounter enough situations that if only you acted on it earlier, the outcome will be far better than what it is. So just do it, now! Dun wait for later.
Thirdly, as a leader, sometimes, it is both a weight but another an encouragement that you have people under you. For good or for bad, these people will follow you. If you are wise, they might be able to complete their task easily. If you are not so wise, they might need to put in a lot more effort to make it happen. But like it or not, that is why leaders are they for in the first place. So, really, take care of the people under you, in your case, the squad that you lead for BB Cares. I am not asking you to sayang everyone. Actually, the most straight forward way of caring for your members, is simply to plan ahead. Through planning, you can see whether you are stressing the members too much or too slack with them while maintain the posture of wanting to involve everyone. This is what I call, 1 stone hit 2 birds =)
Tough a not as a Leader? Yes of course. It is not suppose to be easy anyway. But doable? YES!! Start early, plan early. Then you have process your requirement thought thoroughly early.
Now it is close to your SA2. I hope this last stretch you will finish it well so that when the 3 Events are happening, you will have confidence to carry it out, truly your best effort. Remember, I am but a phone call away. Hope all of you learn something today.
Again, as always, let me bless you with this verse. 1 Corinthians 16:13.
Hoong Sheng
Saturday, 18 August 2012
Setting things into Motion!
Yes, finally, since the beginning of this blog, all the Pre-preparation and planning is over and the actual work begins today.
We do not want the Boys to do it for the sake of doing. That is the philosophy we stand on. Even though it is not an easy path, we still do it anyway.
This is done when we asked a special guest to speak about his condition and screen a 1 hour video about Love Life.
I tell you, I thank God really for the guest and video which came sort of at the right time. It just set the "WHY we do BB CARES" correctly for the Boys.
Now, as the 3 FAAs need to focus on How to get about making the event happens, it is as a smoother journey (I hope) since they understand why origami, shirt-making and music video is related to this project.
As per normal, this blog serve to support and the FAAs in this journey. So lets me give an example.
This is a summary of my plan when I did a recruitment booth for SP Primers years ago.
Goal:
Attain 1000 contacts over a span of 3 days showing interest in SP Primers, in the form of the booth.
Roles:
Booth IC - Supervising the entire 3 days
Logistic team (2 pax) - Making sure that Happi Coat is done (so that everyone at the booth can wear), table is decorated nicely, all materials like balloons, sign-up forms is available.
Admin team (2 pax) - Consolidating the sign up forms and create calling list. (managing 1000 contacts is no joke) And roster people to man the booth.
Training IC (1 pax) - Train Primers to be efficient recruiter.
Processes:
1. Processes of Day to Day work flow. From Recruiting to Getting the Contacts to Putting to Calling List to Passing to Callers
2. Booth Set-up/Close Down procedures.
3. Communication to rest of Primers about Booth operations and how they can chip in by submitting availability dates.
4. Set up timeline. Set Logistics Ready date, Happi Coat Ready date, Roster Out date. Allow each team to set their own realistic dateline.
Relationships:
Booth IC to monitor the workload of the team members, not so much
Booth IC to train up year 2 to take over roles in the coming year.
So FAAs, as you do your next entry, you can consider them. Of course, I would expect you to input much more information. For example the shapes of your origami, design of the origami wall, t-shirt design, music and lyrics etc.
Be mindful of the datelines i given! =)
By the way, John 12:24 is the verse that Dora mum mention in the documentary that we saw in that 1 hour. Indeed, only when the kernel of wheat dies can it produce many seeds. The journey ahead will only gets tougher and my challenge for you is to die to self (which literally means cutting down on time you spend for your entertainment and pouring most of your energy to this Project) so that you can see many seeds (people touched by the effort you put in and bridging the School to ARC Children Centre.)
Cheers! I will be rooting you on!
By the way, this is the Booth Team that work with me when I was with SP Primers. the DIY Happi Coat is the first time we ever do such a coat and it took us 2 days to it. Nice right?
We do not want the Boys to do it for the sake of doing. That is the philosophy we stand on. Even though it is not an easy path, we still do it anyway.
This is done when we asked a special guest to speak about his condition and screen a 1 hour video about Love Life.
I tell you, I thank God really for the guest and video which came sort of at the right time. It just set the "WHY we do BB CARES" correctly for the Boys.
Now, as the 3 FAAs need to focus on How to get about making the event happens, it is as a smoother journey (I hope) since they understand why origami, shirt-making and music video is related to this project.
As per normal, this blog serve to support and the FAAs in this journey. So lets me give an example.
This is a summary of my plan when I did a recruitment booth for SP Primers years ago.
Goal:
Attain 1000 contacts over a span of 3 days showing interest in SP Primers, in the form of the booth.
Roles:
Booth IC - Supervising the entire 3 days
Logistic team (2 pax) - Making sure that Happi Coat is done (so that everyone at the booth can wear), table is decorated nicely, all materials like balloons, sign-up forms is available.
Admin team (2 pax) - Consolidating the sign up forms and create calling list. (managing 1000 contacts is no joke) And roster people to man the booth.
Training IC (1 pax) - Train Primers to be efficient recruiter.
Processes:
1. Processes of Day to Day work flow. From Recruiting to Getting the Contacts to Putting to Calling List to Passing to Callers
2. Booth Set-up/Close Down procedures.
3. Communication to rest of Primers about Booth operations and how they can chip in by submitting availability dates.
4. Set up timeline. Set Logistics Ready date, Happi Coat Ready date, Roster Out date. Allow each team to set their own realistic dateline.
Relationships:
Booth IC to monitor the workload of the team members, not so much
Booth IC to train up year 2 to take over roles in the coming year.
So FAAs, as you do your next entry, you can consider them. Of course, I would expect you to input much more information. For example the shapes of your origami, design of the origami wall, t-shirt design, music and lyrics etc.
Be mindful of the datelines i given! =)
By the way, John 12:24 is the verse that Dora mum mention in the documentary that we saw in that 1 hour. Indeed, only when the kernel of wheat dies can it produce many seeds. The journey ahead will only gets tougher and my challenge for you is to die to self (which literally means cutting down on time you spend for your entertainment and pouring most of your energy to this Project) so that you can see many seeds (people touched by the effort you put in and bridging the School to ARC Children Centre.)
Cheers! I will be rooting you on!
By the way, this is the Booth Team that work with me when I was with SP Primers. the DIY Happi Coat is the first time we ever do such a coat and it took us 2 days to it. Nice right?
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
A Break? I dun think so haha
Yes, now happens to be the season of having CA2 and dear FAAs, yes you can focus on your studies. But is this truely a break? I dun think so.
Sometimes, i like to believe that there is really no such thing as a break. I believe that even in breaks like these, we need to be focus on other things and doing it deliberately. Doing stuff that you probably cannot unless you are on a break, thats is what you should be doing.
Confused? Let me share in greater details.
While you are taking a break to studies, have an end in mind, your BB CARES projects will reignite in full stream after which. So, what you should do or can do is really to build up the rapport required for the event.
Remember that the following team is required.
Event IC : Yourself
Event 2IC: Fellow FAAs
Event 3IC/4IC/5ICs/Logistics: One of them must be a Sec 2s Understudy
So the best way to maximize your break times is really to connect with the Sec 2s or Sec 3 that will be working hard with you.
Remember GRPR which is heavily emphasized during LDC2 recently? Yup, Relationship may be the last but often the success and failure lies with it. Remember, the last thing we want is the Boys going through the motion without learning the heartbeat behind why we do what we do.
Unfortunately, relationship building takes time. So do make that attempt to do it. In particular, let me share this verse Hebrews 10:24-25.
Updates! There are some changes to the Events.
10th October - Origami Event
11th October - Shirt-Making Event
12th October - MTV Making Event
A task for you, Have a meaningful slogan for your event.
Examples of meaningful slogan:
Have a Heart, Share a Gift - BB Sharity Gift Box
I am who We are - Ubuntu
Hair for Hope
Help unlock the 2nd Prison - Yellow Ribbon Project
Reduce Reuse Recycle
So let your creative juice flows!
See you guys as you update your blog!
Sometimes, i like to believe that there is really no such thing as a break. I believe that even in breaks like these, we need to be focus on other things and doing it deliberately. Doing stuff that you probably cannot unless you are on a break, thats is what you should be doing.
Confused? Let me share in greater details.
While you are taking a break to studies, have an end in mind, your BB CARES projects will reignite in full stream after which. So, what you should do or can do is really to build up the rapport required for the event.
Remember that the following team is required.
Event IC : Yourself
Event 2IC: Fellow FAAs
Event 3IC/4IC/5ICs/Logistics: One of them must be a Sec 2s Understudy
So the best way to maximize your break times is really to connect with the Sec 2s or Sec 3 that will be working hard with you.
Remember GRPR which is heavily emphasized during LDC2 recently? Yup, Relationship may be the last but often the success and failure lies with it. Remember, the last thing we want is the Boys going through the motion without learning the heartbeat behind why we do what we do.
Unfortunately, relationship building takes time. So do make that attempt to do it. In particular, let me share this verse Hebrews 10:24-25.
Updates! There are some changes to the Events.
10th October - Origami Event
11th October - Shirt-Making Event
12th October - MTV Making Event
A task for you, Have a meaningful slogan for your event.
Examples of meaningful slogan:
Have a Heart, Share a Gift - BB Sharity Gift Box
I am who We are - Ubuntu
Hair for Hope
Help unlock the 2nd Prison - Yellow Ribbon Project
Reduce Reuse Recycle
So let your creative juice flows!
See you guys as you update your blog!
Monday, 30 July 2012
3 in 1?
Today, I have a major download from Narash our Captain about the direction of BB CARES 2012. Yes, Yes, it is part of Community Service Stage 3 but somehow it has since escalate to something so significant, so massive yet promising. I don't know how much my 3 FAAs manage to absorb from my Captain, but i know it is going to be so meaningful and potentially something that really marks what 99th Company can do, and definitely something the current leadership (Sec 3s) can be really proud of at the end of the day.
So, what is so great about the main plan?
Basically, we got to start from the beginning...
In the beginning, besides knowing that we need to do BB CARES along with Community Services, we happened to know a old Boy whom recently diagnose with cancer. Besides visiting him and understanding a bit of the pain he has to endure through, it triggers the concept of really doing this BB CARES project with a VWO that is dealing cancer patients, in particular, those children recovering or fighting against cancer. After some finding, in the middle of June 2012, we manage to get in touch with Arc Children Centre, a VWO that is providing day-care services for children undergoing cancer and chemo treatment and everything else is snow-balled which is recorded in the 3 other individual Blogs by my FAAs.
So, thats how it all started. But we know what we are capable of. Certainty, we do have talents from generations of Boys we have been blessed with. From Ahmad Danial (ex CSM) song he composed with help from Razy (ex Squad Leader) in a short 3 days worth of LDC 2010, to current Marcus (ASM) whom is also a FAA that pretty musically inclined. From the Hong Kong Trip to STAB Camp 2 where we manage to train Boys to know how to take proper video, photos and using IPAD to produce short videos. From 2010 where the Company rallied the School into a fund raising campaign to stick hearts to "combat" cancer cells; These are all signs that the Company can do much more.
Hence, since there are 3 FAAs, with the basic concept of using digital media and spirit of Ubuntu (I am who We Are), coupled with the Company philosophy of every one (Boy and Children of Arc Centre) can contribute, we decided to go on and create 3 Event which really is 1 BB CARES project.
The 1st Event revolves around rallying the School to produce paper cranes and heart shaped origami. Paper Cranes has long being a symbol of well wishes for speed recovery. When the School population does that for Arc Children Centre, you can imagine the support that is going to drive the kids. But that is not the end, bringing these artwork, we can frame them up in a way that we can put up on the wall of the Arc Centre during our first Event. Over at the event, we can also teach the kids how to go about doing certain shape of origami, which they could put up with their masterpiece up on this Get-Well-Soon-Frame.
Then following next Event 2, we will go down to teach the Kids how to make their own T-shirt. Having the experience from STAB 2 Camp, many have worn shirts but the satisfaction taken from doing their own shirt will definitely make everything worth the effort.
The Final Event 3 is set to end of the BB CARES project whereby a song will be taught to them so that every kid present can join in even as we shot the last portion of the MTV. The end product is a song with MTV from our own Boys partnering and supporting the Arc Children Centre Kids, how powerful is it?
I dun know about you, but i am pretty excited about it...
Can i post a video to get the concept into you? Please note that the video is only an concept...
What do you think? Hope you are excited about it! =)
So, what is so great about the main plan?
Basically, we got to start from the beginning...
In the beginning, besides knowing that we need to do BB CARES along with Community Services, we happened to know a old Boy whom recently diagnose with cancer. Besides visiting him and understanding a bit of the pain he has to endure through, it triggers the concept of really doing this BB CARES project with a VWO that is dealing cancer patients, in particular, those children recovering or fighting against cancer. After some finding, in the middle of June 2012, we manage to get in touch with Arc Children Centre, a VWO that is providing day-care services for children undergoing cancer and chemo treatment and everything else is snow-balled which is recorded in the 3 other individual Blogs by my FAAs.
So, thats how it all started. But we know what we are capable of. Certainty, we do have talents from generations of Boys we have been blessed with. From Ahmad Danial (ex CSM) song he composed with help from Razy (ex Squad Leader) in a short 3 days worth of LDC 2010, to current Marcus (ASM) whom is also a FAA that pretty musically inclined. From the Hong Kong Trip to STAB Camp 2 where we manage to train Boys to know how to take proper video, photos and using IPAD to produce short videos. From 2010 where the Company rallied the School into a fund raising campaign to stick hearts to "combat" cancer cells; These are all signs that the Company can do much more.
Hence, since there are 3 FAAs, with the basic concept of using digital media and spirit of Ubuntu (I am who We Are), coupled with the Company philosophy of every one (Boy and Children of Arc Centre) can contribute, we decided to go on and create 3 Event which really is 1 BB CARES project.
The 1st Event revolves around rallying the School to produce paper cranes and heart shaped origami. Paper Cranes has long being a symbol of well wishes for speed recovery. When the School population does that for Arc Children Centre, you can imagine the support that is going to drive the kids. But that is not the end, bringing these artwork, we can frame them up in a way that we can put up on the wall of the Arc Centre during our first Event. Over at the event, we can also teach the kids how to go about doing certain shape of origami, which they could put up with their masterpiece up on this Get-Well-Soon-Frame.
Then following next Event 2, we will go down to teach the Kids how to make their own T-shirt. Having the experience from STAB 2 Camp, many have worn shirts but the satisfaction taken from doing their own shirt will definitely make everything worth the effort.
The Final Event 3 is set to end of the BB CARES project whereby a song will be taught to them so that every kid present can join in even as we shot the last portion of the MTV. The end product is a song with MTV from our own Boys partnering and supporting the Arc Children Centre Kids, how powerful is it?
I dun know about you, but i am pretty excited about it...
Can i post a video to get the concept into you? Please note that the video is only an concept...
Sunday, 22 July 2012
Old Ford Factory
21st July, I went to Old Ford Factory with my company. Well, its is suppose to be one of those "hardly-anything-for-the-officers-to-do" day. I recall the only most busy portion is the last 45 mins when the Boys need to answer a form online to submit as reflections for the trip.
Well for those that does know me well enough will know that I am only a PR and not a citizen. But to be honest, I do know more history about Singapore than Malaysia. So I got a bit worried that my Boys did not detect an typo error in the year of which British surrender Singapore to Japan, 1942. Thankfully, some did manage to answer the quiz correctly.
One thing I learn from the Old Ford Factory visit was the power of persuasion. General Yamashita basically know that if British choose not to surrender, his troops will probably not able to make it. Because his troops have been battling all the way from the then Malaya to Singapore. Both food and ammunition is low on both sides. Yet in just 20 minutes, the case is closed, British surrender Singapore over to be occupied by Japanese for 3 years and 8 months, the darkest days of Singapore History.
Today as I reflect, do we defend what we hold dear?
It could be a idea, a plan that you have in mind that you really want it to work. If people just drop a few questions to these plans or ideas that you have, will you change or defend them?
Choosing to change these plans or ideas means that the questions raise by these people are valid. You did not think so in depth or so complete. Hence, to make perfect your plan or idea, you choose to accommodate it. Indeed, if this is the case, then humbly accept the advise and triggers to improve on it. Also, next time it will be wiser to think deeper before your conceive a plan.
Choosing to defend these ideas and plans sometime got to do with how confident you are with the plan, how much thoughts you have given into them and how convince you are that these plans will work. Put it simply, in the past, British treated Singapore as a colony, something good to have but not important to have. Percival view surrendering as an easier option comparing with retaking the water and electric supplies option. Both of them do have a strong reason to defend Singapore, unless you accept pride as an answer. So really, who has a better reason to defend Singapore than Singaporeans.
But putting history asides, really, in everything that we do, we better have a strong reason to do it and be ready to defend it. I like the readiness as written in 1 Peter 3:15-17.
So as you are doing your BB CARES event planning, or any other planning, be ready to think in depth and ready to defend it, very much like any strategy tower defence games.
Dun flippantly changes your resolve just because someone says this or another say that! Its part of being a warrior to stand firm in what you believe in.
Well for those that does know me well enough will know that I am only a PR and not a citizen. But to be honest, I do know more history about Singapore than Malaysia. So I got a bit worried that my Boys did not detect an typo error in the year of which British surrender Singapore to Japan, 1942. Thankfully, some did manage to answer the quiz correctly.
One thing I learn from the Old Ford Factory visit was the power of persuasion. General Yamashita basically know that if British choose not to surrender, his troops will probably not able to make it. Because his troops have been battling all the way from the then Malaya to Singapore. Both food and ammunition is low on both sides. Yet in just 20 minutes, the case is closed, British surrender Singapore over to be occupied by Japanese for 3 years and 8 months, the darkest days of Singapore History.
Today as I reflect, do we defend what we hold dear?
It could be a idea, a plan that you have in mind that you really want it to work. If people just drop a few questions to these plans or ideas that you have, will you change or defend them?
Choosing to change these plans or ideas means that the questions raise by these people are valid. You did not think so in depth or so complete. Hence, to make perfect your plan or idea, you choose to accommodate it. Indeed, if this is the case, then humbly accept the advise and triggers to improve on it. Also, next time it will be wiser to think deeper before your conceive a plan.
Choosing to defend these ideas and plans sometime got to do with how confident you are with the plan, how much thoughts you have given into them and how convince you are that these plans will work. Put it simply, in the past, British treated Singapore as a colony, something good to have but not important to have. Percival view surrendering as an easier option comparing with retaking the water and electric supplies option. Both of them do have a strong reason to defend Singapore, unless you accept pride as an answer. So really, who has a better reason to defend Singapore than Singaporeans.
But putting history asides, really, in everything that we do, we better have a strong reason to do it and be ready to defend it. I like the readiness as written in 1 Peter 3:15-17.
So as you are doing your BB CARES event planning, or any other planning, be ready to think in depth and ready to defend it, very much like any strategy tower defence games.
Dun flippantly changes your resolve just because someone says this or another say that! Its part of being a warrior to stand firm in what you believe in.
Saturday, 14 July 2012
A Reflection about parade on 14th July
Last parade was a pretty challenging parade for me. One part of it is because I din sleep enough, one part of it is because I was asked to bring a Boy to parade. Since this is a Blog, I shall not reveal the identity of this Boy.
The story goes like this. This Boy did not want to come for parade, because he finds it boring, but its willing to attend the punishment, which is 3 sessions of school detention. What he does not know is that the he is considered repeat offenders, which will means that his punishment will doubled in severity. His reputation in the school is already not very promising so he already sort of have that kind of give-up, suck-thumb kind of attitude. So he was ready to miss the parade and get the punishment.
I went over to his house and to find no one at the door. Waited for a good 10 minutes only to receive a angry note (as i have been pressing the bell and knocking at the door) from his dad that he is this Boy is not at home. Obviously, he was siding the Boy but as he close the door, I mention that this Boy will be punished for missing the parade. After smsing this Boy and standing at the door for another 10 minutes, I was ready to give up and move on to the next house to grab another Boy that is playing the rules.
I was thinking a lot then, why does this Boy want to give up himself. As i was bring the 2nd Boy back to Parade, the first Boy called up and i was pleasantly surprised. This Boy called and said that he will be coming. I thought, "wow, he started to think properly and wanted to make up for it." So I say quickly come and i will wait at the road junction just outside school. It was drizzling then but i choose to wait at the traffic junction.
I thought in order for him to redeem himself, I cannot go to his house again. He have to come to us. If not, the whole episode will just be another adult-force-children kind of episode. He needs to learn that not doing wrong is better than accepting the punishment.
To cut the wrong story short, he manage to come for parade, even though it is consider late and will receive the punishment for being late and not the punishment for persistent skipping of official school events.
I was actually very happy for the Boy, because he choose not to commit the wrong of missing the parade instead of the original intent to skip the parade and accepting the punishment. Being late and missing parade is both wrong. But he choose to stop at being late is remarkable. Even though he needs lots of improvement and more mentoring, i thought that this shows that at least, this Boy still have hope. In fact, if he divert more attention to do right, I believe with all my heart that be a good and able leader of the Company.
Somehow, I am very thankful that this episode took place. It literally shows me a glimpse on how God feels with one lost son returns to the Father ( Luke 15:11-32 ). So dear Officers or Leaders, lets not give up on any Boy that cross our paths. They are precious gems ready to be polished and uncovered.
Signing off!
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