Life is going to throw you some blocks. You will decide if they are going to be your stumbling blocks or your building blocks.
Saji Ijiyemi
When you’re going through tough times, it is difficult to feel that life is going to get better. You’ll wonder why bad things always happen to you. Life doesn’t seem fair. You remembered a time when you were happy, but that seemed so long ago. Now you can’t even recall when it all started to go wrong.
Remember, your past doesn’t define who you are. It’s your choice whether you pick yourself up and start on a right track now, or continue with your bad choices. It is not easy to stay on the path of what’s right, especially if you have a troubled past. Even then there are others who have tried and have made it. They’re just like you. It starts with a dream, and then the determination to stay on course no matter what. Are you willing? The courageous and harder choice is to do it differently this time, despite the road blocks you see ahead of you. These obstructions are not permanently there. You can choose to discard your pride and ask for help. There may be agencies that may be willing to help you if you just ask. Go for it. You know you’re better than who you are right now.
You’re precious and it is never too late. Don’t give up on yourself. God hasn’t. If you don’t think there is anyone else who will extend a helping hand to you, try Him. Read about Jadyn Ng below. He turned his life around after eight years out of prison. You can too!
Artist: Lydia C. Text: Anna G.
Five Years in prison & now pursuing Law
Jadyn Ng as a teenager had a lot of freedom because his parents were too busy with their business. He skipped school and mixed with wrong company. He joined a gang and ended up in the illicit sale of pornographic videos and contraband cigarettes. He also took drugs and got into fights.
At age 17, he was sent to a reformative centre (prison for underage offenders). From 2007 to 2012, he was in and out of prison. Whilst there, his interest in law was sparked by having to help his cellmate prepare for his case. He was fascinated by the legal documents he had the opportunity to read. After his release, he realized that life outside prison was even tougher than the regimented life in there.
He was discouraged seeing people his age chatting and studying for college whilst at 22 years old, he had hardly any educational qualifications. Not one to wallow in self-pity, he enrolled for an industrial diploma with the Building Construction Authority Academy. He received scholarship from Yellow Ribbon Singapore (agency to help ex-offenders to reintegrate into society).
With the help of a mentor, he pursued further studies and even graduated with a college degree. Now, after eight years out of prison, he is in the midst of pursuing his law qualifications. After being locked up in three different prisons, five police stations and two youth homes, he is paying it forward by helping youths-at-risk and ex-offenders.
