Just watched a HK movie called "Big Brother" which is about an ex-troubled teenager who returned to his alma mater and became the form teacher to a class that was full of troubled kids. He helped them and their parents to face their issues, living out the school's motto of "everyone can be taught, and everyone has their talent".
我想起当初念完A水平后曾到母校当临教，所执教的班级都是倒数第一第二的。当时因为和学生们年龄相近所以和他们混得来，问起他们为何不专心上课呢，他们就说"因为我们笨啊!" 我就继续说"怎么说自己笨?"他们的回答让我留下了深刻的印象-"因为大家都说我们笨"。
This reminded me of a time after I finished A-levels and I went back to my alma mater to be a relief teacher. The classes that were allocated to me were either the last or second last in terms of academic performance. It was easy to talk to them because my age is close to them so I asked them why do they not pay attention in class, of which they replied "'cause we are stupid!" So I told them, "why do you say that you are stupid yourself?" Their answer left a lasting impression with me - " 'cause everyone says that we are stupid".
其实，身为"大人"或比较有经验或权威的人(包括父母/师长/长辈/牧者/导师)，我们说的话有何等的力量? 我们有没有用我们的话语去成就人?
As an "adult" or anyone with more experience or a higher authority (including parents, teachers, elderlies, pastoral workers and leaders), do we realise how much weight there is in our words? Do we use our words to build others up?
再者，我们在其他人谈论我们时，我们有没有判断力去检视自己，而不是照单全收或盲目推拒不愿更改错误?
Meanwhile, when others talk about us, do we have the discernment to self-assess, rather than believing blindly what others say, or being resistive to any correction?
其实不只是所谓的问题学生才有问题，我们全部都在寻找给自己的一个肯定，一个定位，不是吗?
Actually, it is not troubled youths alone who face these issues. Each of us is lost and is looking for a direction, an identity, isn't it?
我也曾经茫然，曾经的理想是一种爱国情操，但想想其实不过是希望看到有抱负的学生们有机会读好书而不被家庭环境限制了。而在认识了耶稣基督说教导的一切后，这个理想也转变成希望你我都能满满地活出一个有意义的生命，不被环境/自我/社会/罪恶限制的一个生命，一个因真理而自由的生命。
I was lost too, used to believe that my dream is a patriotic ideal, and yet looking back I just want each student who has a dream to have the opportunity to pursue it, not limited by their upbringing. After I came to believe what Jesus Christ has taught, this ideal has transformed and matured as well. It is my dream to see each one of us to live a meaningful life, one that is not restricted by our upbringing / our egoistic pursues / societal pressures / sinful desires, one that is freed because of truth.
还有，谢谢您，刘老师，还有您代表着的每一位在我生命中点亮了一盏明灯的老师们。
And finally, thank you, Mdm. Liew, and every single teachers that you represent, whom had sowed a light of hope inside my life.
