Daily Lesson from Life 30 August 2008

A Positive VPO Experience!!

I like to share the Volunteer Probation Office (VPO) experience I had this afternoon instead of going to the press to comment on some headlines that link to the 7e Way of Leaders approach to life.

This afternoon I attended the Parents-Probationers Dialogue meeting organized by the Probation Services Branch of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) as a VPO. My role is to assist the Probation Officer to conduct the Mandarin-speaking Parents Dialogue session.

It is a very meaningful session as most of the parents are genuinely interested in their kids' predicament and shared opening about their trials and tribulations in the 12-18 months probation period journey with each others. Some are more articulate while some with gentle guidance and prompting shared their views too.

Some parents expressed shocks when the kids' mis-adventure that landed them in the court of laws where they were given a 2nd chance to be under probation instead of being in remand. Many managed to overcome their denial stage and face the issue heads-on and focus on helping their kids through the probation period.

Many of them are 1/2 or 2/3 through the trying journey and are hopeful of completing it without any breach. They look forward to turnover a new leaf as they move on their life journey.

Lessons for me:

1. it is heartening to see the parents sharing their successes with each others as well as voicing their fears and concerns on if their kids will go through the how probation journey successfully;

2. it is wonderful to see the kids joining their parents to decorate a 3-piece puzzle with materials provided. A form of family interaction that they perhaps will not do or get to do on their own. Some parents and kids worked as a team with one applying the glues while the other attached the decorative materials on the puzzle pieces. Some discussed about the design of the decoration. All were involved and this is marvelous;

3. the individual puzzle pieces symbolized the 'fragmented' or 'disrupted' young probationer's current stage in their young life. Each with it's incompleteness. With holes or protrusion that are unsightly and disoriented or chaotic. With team work, the individual puzzle pieces come together to form a complete set that shows the bright and brilliant designs and the fruits of labour. When a family works in unison on helping each other towards the right path, the 'disrupted' and 'fragmented' young life will be whole again.

It is a privilege to be involved with such a meaningful session!