I had many intentions on coming to BCCSC to find a job, one of them being church was a comforting familiarity and many of my cell members were finding their places there. Thus when David actually voiced his opinion that I should try out volunteering at BCCSC's student centre, I did not really hesitate to agree. Cutting a long and definitely boring story short, I got in touch with Jacinta and started a short volunteering stint there since I was not given a proper position there as a member of the staff. Somehow or rather, God's divine ways led me to the old conference room of the not-yet-renovated church office and straight into the unknown hands of Mandy and Toonhan. They interviewed me for a position in the Family Department as a Youth Worker, quite unlike my initial conception of working with children alone. I honestly, at that point, had no idea what on earth BCCSC did besides work with children in the centre or elderly living in the blocks around the church. Thus when I accepted the job somewhat dubious of everything I was in for, I was pretty frightened for my life given the fact that my dear new superiors made the youth I was about to meet and work with seem like the scariest ever young teenagers I had never ever known.
Throughout my life I have been fortunate in terms of my family, my studies and my friends. Coming to BCCSC and allowing myself to be exposed to the other side of Singapore, the side my friends and I had never seen, was very much enlightening as it was life-changing. This side of Singapore in the busy heartland of Bedok contrasts drastically against my life thus far of sprawling housing estates, beautiful school campuses populated by the well-to-do and slightly glamorous lifestyles of country clubs and Orchard Road hang-outs. Growing up in purely elite schools like SCGS and VJC, I never got the chance to meet with those who, I mean no offense, don't do well in examinations, land up in schools with less-than-perfect company awaiting, and often find themselves in certain moral dilemmas. It's not that good schools don't have such temptations - the rich simply have a way of keeping themselves out of too much trouble. I never was a part of the group that pushed the boundaries when I was in school, neither was I in an environment whereby my morals were constantly put to the test. At very most I liked wearing my socks way lower than the ankle-high rule.
I met a whole range of youths during my stint at BCCSC - the typical problem youth who (wow) have brushes with the law from time to time, the odd-ball youngsters who are clueless about social behavior, and the little naughty boys who have issues with anger management. Many of these children come from families with pretty severe problems at hand, which give rise to their own behavioral problems. Although I don't know very much about counselling or social work, I learnt that everyone has a need for help, and everyone deserves to be heard and offered a kind hand. No matter how problematic or outrageous a client may be, they still deserve to receive the love of Christ through us. It is not for us to say who is better or worse. I also learnt that social workers really have huge hearts and enormous listening capacity - in other words enduring patience and overwhelming love for the lost and helpless. It has been my true honor to work with and make good friends with such people.
As for my own personal experience throughout the 5-6 months at BCCSC, I will always remember my first day in the under-renovation office. I was nervous and uncomfortable, sitting in the corner of the back conference room that was cluttered with computers and stuff. I remember Toonhan showing me around, making me read those (honestly kinda useless) reports on the programmes run (I couldn't understand a word!!). John came in later and I was pretty scared of him because I didn't know him like I knew Jeslyn and Mary. But things got better when we went to buy food from 85 and he told me about how he met Shirley and his upcoming marriage. When we all moved in to the new office I volunteered to wipe all the tables and help unwrap the new chairs. Mary and I had to move all the old office material back from Hall 2 to the new cupboards - packing could kill! I got my own table, which I happily used as a huge creative space for me and all my unused barang at home. Boy, will I miss that work space.
What else will I take with me when I leave? Perhaps it's the interesting story on how Darryl got his job through my recommendation, or how we loved to explore the room with the ping pong table..maybe how we watched Room 401 in SCC, or how Trinette, Darryl and I had spontaneous monthly Pay Day Dinners (starting with Crystal Jade, followed by Thaipan, Ajisen Ramen, Billy Bombers, and finally Simpang Bedok). Nothing would have been the same without these 2 very special people - one who always gets on my nerves with his crazy antics and sometimes bad temper, but will in the end make me smile when he starts disturbing his dearest Olive Oyl, the other is the delightful brunt of Darryl's teasing and resident whiner who's great to boss around (HAHA) and love tremendously. I love you both dearly, people. It's so sad to see us no longer hanging out after work (or even during work)..no more PDDs and random car rides to eat good food. I won't get to tolerate Darryl's singing in the morning (and every moment he's in the car) or have Trinette make me milo anymore. The Office Fiends is having its very last episode tomorrow when work draws to its rapid end. I had never imagined it making so much difference to my life, but it has. Its imprint is on my life journey forever.
How can I just let you walk away
Just let you leave without a trace
When I stand here taking
Every breath with you
You're the only one
Who really knew me at all
How can you just walk away from me
When all I can do is watch you leave
'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain
And even shared the tears
You're the only one
Who really knew me at all
So take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
There's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
So take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me, is against the odds
And that's what I've got to face.
Just let you leave without a trace
When I stand here taking
Every breath with you
You're the only one
Who really knew me at all
How can you just walk away from me
When all I can do is watch you leave
'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain
And even shared the tears
You're the only one
Who really knew me at all
So take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
There's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
So take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me, is against the odds
And that's what I've got to face.
Oh well.
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