Concerns

 Their concerns; our concerns

Each year when it comes to this topic, I would ask the children to talk.

Talk their hearts out.

Strangely, the concerns are evergreen; they are the same.

We adults must listen.

Listen to their needs.

Occasionally Grace who is practising in Singapore will ask me about some of the challenges her patients go through; her famous inquiry being: "Ma, do you have students who...?" Some of them we concur while some others we do not. Students' main challenges include high parental expectations, peer pressures, BGR, and cyber bullying.

Of these, the most heart breaking relates to cyber bulling; as the victims are not able to stop viral movements, causing emotional scars and pains. My heart goes out to them. Not only are the victims buffering but the family members too. You can imagine the nightmares and tortures. So they are warned to be careful with the friends they mix with and also to be cautious of conversations.

Parental expectations too are a bane to them. They dislike being compared to and switch off to overcoem the challenge. Jer Dong told us he actually has no big concerns; he is well-brought up and has a set of principles to follow by. So he doesn't get into hot soup. I wonder...

Suicidal tendencies are also a concern to some; when things get out of hand and there doesn't seem to be someone around, students feel that some can resort to suicides. When I ask for solutions, they tell me they can turn to teachers, counsellors, friends and Amanda and Chloe stood up and exclaimed;

 " We can turn to God !"

Clever girls.

So it is my intention that they talk. They not only reveal some secrets but displayed speaking skills and courage. I also wanted them to acquire impromptu responses to stimuli from the crowd. This I hope will help them in future deliveries.

The topic inadvertently led us to discover some popular cases in the cyber world. We examine their causes of despair; most of which are related to BGRs and the inability to overcome disappointment and failure in relationships. Both cases above led to death and I asked them for solutions; again and again I wanted them to decipher the steps to take in the event they land up in the same situation. They seem bright and confident; condemning the suicide and acknowledging that there are ways to conquer the challenge.

 I told them to love their parents and do the right thing.

Teenage concerns are really our concerns; big or small.