Going through tough times in our teens is not uncommon but having someone there to go through it with us might be. Fortunately for Evan*, he had the company of his mentor to journey with him through trying times.
We got to chat with him about his experiences and hope you feel encouraged by what he has shared through this interview with him!
“I remember when I was in NPCC (my CCA), there was a group of boys that would constantly bully me. They would take advantage of my kindness, taunt and mock me, and cause trouble during CCA, making me feel bad about myself. I couldn’t take it because I feel that they should set a better example for the juniors with their behaviour.
Going through all the bullying and taunting made me feel terrible about myself. They would even go to the extent of telling lies about me to get me in trouble. There was once that they framed me for hurting them physically when I didn’t and got me in trouble. It was one of the more irritating and frustrating things that I went through.
I didn’t have many friends I could talk to and trust while I was going through all these things. The person that was there for me was my mentor Wilson (Tan), who I met during one of the YGOS school programmes held in school back in 2023. He encouraged me a lot during those tough times, and he believed in me that I could overcome my situation. He was also very present in my life, constantly checking up on me and making sure that I was ok.
I am not sure how I would end up if Wilson wasn’t there for me. But through our talks, he helped me understand that there are people out there who also care about me and my well-being, like my teachers. He also taught me the importance of believing in myself, which makes me want to work on being able to step up and be there for myself too.
If there’s one thing, I hope I can share with people is to not give up so easily, especially when you’re having a tough time. Just keep on trying even though you fail, in the end, it’s about a never-give-up attitude and perseverance.”
You might be wondering why or how Evan was able to share his struggles with a mentor that he wasn’t very close to at first, but one of the keys to mentoring, as shared by Wilson is to be non-judgmental. In a short interview with us, he shared his approach towards mentoring and journeying with youth: “Empathy is important for being non-judgmental. Being able to identify with a youth’s struggles yet not being too quick to give advice or put them down with our words is important. When interacting or talking to the youths, I am very mindful of the words being said, mindful of not to stifle or hinder his willingness to talk and share more. Being sensitive to their feelings is important as well.”
We hope that these stories being shared have encouraged you and inspired you to give mentoring a try! If you are interested in volunteering or donating to our cause, drop us an email at irene.neo@ygos.org.sg to find out how you too can make a difference.
Comments