“Nothing new under the air-conditioner”: Lessons from a young prisoner going back to school
Jesus died and rose again so we may have abundant life right now. This Holy Week, leading to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, Salt&Light invites you to find out more about Jesus.
Dr Tan Lai Yong // April 3, 2023, 6:19 pm
Dr Tan Lai Yong, who has served as a prison doctor, missionary and educator, recalls a conversation with a young offender on change and renewal. Photo by Chromatograph on Unsplash.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:1-2)
This is the first in a series of four Easter devotional reflections by Dr Tan Lai Yong based on his conversations with people from a spectrum of backgrounds.
In these reflections, Dr Tan rethinks his walk in light of Christ’s death and resurrection.
Prison to purpose
Joe (not his real name) showed me his textbooks and went back to studying. He was a juvenile offender going back to vocational school on a special programme.
Compared to his chequered past, he was now a model student doing well in his studies.
Getting out of the custodial centre was a daily privilege that Joe treasured.
Studying only, what
Prior to his sentence, Joe had skipped school, slept late and did not care much about his studies. He was already earning good money cleaning air-conditioners and doing routine maintenance jobs. School was not so relevant to him.
He told me that he would have to be on his toes with studies or lose the privilege of daily “book-outs”. He would rather study hard than spend the whole day in custody.
“Once you work and have to earn money, being a student is easy life.”
At school, he was getting an allowance to buy canteen food instead of eating the standard food in the centre.
With lights out at 10pm, he was getting good sleep and that did wonders for the learning mind.
I commended him on working hard and praised him for studying hard.
He shook his head and said: “Studying only, what (slang for “what so difficult about studying?”). Once you work and have to earn money, being a student is easy life. Only have to look at the books.”
I asked: “But you have to mug for exams, right? And that is hard work.”
Joe did not know who I was. He assumed that I was just another casual visitor.
“New types of air-conditioner? They just change the outside to look nice to trick people like you. Not me.”
Joe laughed and then said: “What so hard about exams? Look at the book, look at the diagram, look at the question and write the answer. We are prisoners but we are not stupid (he pointed to his head). Anyway, exams are …. (he paused to think) … made for students to pass.
“If everyone fails, the teacher gets into trouble. Like EPL (English Premier League), you know? If the football team always lose, they sack the manager.”
Ouch. I resolved not to tell Joe that I was an educator or reveal that I set exam papers.
“Exams, aside, it is still very good for you to study and upgrade and keep up with the new technology,” I said.
Joe laughed again and said: “What new technology? Air-conditioner is air-conditioner – pipes, fans and compressor. New types of air-conditioner? They just change the outside to look nice only. It is to trick people like you. Not me. I still clean the same way. Nothing so new.”
A new person being shaped
“Would you study to get the certificate if you were not on the special programme?” I asked Joe.
Joe replied that he would.
Joe taught me that I need to be on a learning journey … also to learn what is in me.
“There isn’t that much new skills in cleaning air-conditioners. But you know, if I pass and get a certificate, I can tender for cleaning contracts and then employ others to clean. I become the boss,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Prison has taught me to control my temper. I am here because I punched that man who scolded me. Next time, I will just walk away.”
No new air-conditioners, but a new person was being shaped. New aims, new behaviour and hopefully new contracts.
Joe taught me that I need to be on a learning journey – not to be too fixated on assessments and exams – but to know what lies ahead with the new learning and also to learn what is in me. He taught me that the old me needs to be renewed and changed.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” (Ephesians 4:26-28)
Check back for more of Dr Tan Lai Yong’s Holy Week reflections in the following days.
MORE ON GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER:
It is finished: Do tough times challenge the “good” in Good Friday?
The gifts in the valley: How God shepherded a pastor’s soul after his wife died
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