Daily Lessons from Life 13-15 June 2011 - Youth Suicide, BG Yeo and Park JiSung

"The New Paper | Mon Jun 13 2011 - Youth Suicide

Suspended from school for disciplinary problems, teen appears happy after taking part-time job. Then he falls to his death.

Darryle Tan Guan Wei, 16, appeared to have taken a turn for the better, becoming more mature and more respectful towards his parents.

So when he fell to his death late last month, his parents were staggered.

"It came as a surprise," said his father, 52, a businessman who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan. He spoke to The New Paper at the family's apartment in Yio Chu Kang last night.

The schoolboy's case is one of several suicides that has come to light recently.

Organisations and people involved in child welfare have asked for more to be done for troubled youth.

The Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), for instance, has called for a suicide prevention programme to be put in place in schools here."

A tragedy that no one wanted to read about. Condolences to the family.

If youth suicides are on the alarming up trend, then the calls by the NGOs and VWOs' calls for more to be done should be heeded. Such a decision was made during the most vulnerable and emotional moment. So, if we can catch that before it happened, lives can be saved.

"Park Ji Sung's JS Foundation in HCM City, Vietnam - 14 June 2011 My Report!!"

Stayed at the same hotel as this Korean football star stayed. He is here for his JS Foundation's Football Charity work with many of his celebrity friends. There were 'fans' lining outside the hotal looking in. Apparently not all are football fans as many are looking out for his celebrity friends!

Read about his speech to the group of young footballers he worked with on 14 June 2011 in HCM City: "If you have a dream you must work hard at it. My success today is primarily due to my hard work." Indeed, we have seen way too many talented people - sports person or otherwise - falling short when they do not work hard! Even the most talented needs discipline and dedication to be on top on a sustainable manner!

"George Yeo not running for President - AsiaOne Wed, Jun 15, 2011"

He has finally decided NOT to run for the elected President in August 2011. Good on him as he makes good on his initial responses when he left office after the defeat in the recently concluded General Election. He said he is a Free Spirit and is not suitable for the job of the elected President, assuming he is elected.

It is important for him to stick to this decision. He can effect change that he spoke about from NOT being the elected President. There are a lot of work for him to do as he, hopefully, leads Singaporeans towards being a 1st World Citizenry supervising a 1st World Parliament in a 1st World Nation!

Singaporeans are FAR AWAY from 1st World Citizenry. Defined as: citizens who exercise independent thinking and do good for the majority of the people instead of narrow self-interest!