So let’s get this out of the way.
Yes, I am a musician who would like to get world famous, and I'd like your attention. But this blogpost is not going to be about me. It's going to be about a serendipitous meeting with a former Boys' Home resident, who somehow made enough money to send his parents and his sisters to the US of A -- by the time he was 17. And, umm, his parents said no.
But first, to the meeting. I met J playing an MMOFPS, and he started asking me if I remembered him. Well, I didn't. But we were two of the weakest players in the team, and our team was winning.... soooo.... I guess we slacked off and started chatting.
And that's when the mind-fuckery started.
And that's when the mind-fuckery started.
He told me that this (at 3am) was his last day in Singapore. (Why?) He was going to the US. (For what?) He was going to the US to study, A-levels. (Oh, ok, parents?) No, going alone. (What, how? Why? Wtf?) I paid my own way. (And your parents?) <too complicated to redact>
My mind is still reeling from J's story, so let me just recount the salient facts that are making me stay up at 5.04am (WHAT) in the morning.
1. He was labelled BEYOND PARENTAL CONTROL when he was 12. (That's what happens when you're so fucked as a kid that your parents cry daddy and ask the government for help.)
2. From 12 to 14 years' of age, he was in the Boys' Home. (As good as jail, in Singapore.)
3. He promised his parents he would take the A-levels in the USA. (OK, this nugget I may have gotten wrong -- but the promise was something to this effect.)
4. He MADE enough money to finance his way to the US, working the Gong Kuan and Sai Kuan circuit, plus the SG Conrad and a donut shop. (J calls them "stress days". My reply: "So that's how you made all that money. J: "I even grow white hair, lol.")
5. He MADE enough money to pay for his parents AND sisters to go to the US with him.
6. He offered his parents a chance to start a new life.
7. His parents rejected the offer.
At this point, his story becomes mythical (academia speak for FUCKING AWESOME). Look, I know that this guy could be fucking with me (if he is, WHAT a liar). This guy could be having a laugh at my expense. But let's look at the story. Any of those components could be true, and they fit together as a beautiful story.
Boys' Home? -- Yes, that's definitely realistic. Too realistic.
Working as underaged labor? Fine, that's a bit iffy. But if you've been to the Boys' Home, I'm sure that working an honest job for honest cash is FINE.
Saving up enough for his parents and sisters? -- Realistic. Keep a rein on your spending.
Look, I'm not saying that this guy is a saint or a hero. It's just that the story he told me tonight smacks of everything I SHOULD BE.
Take a look.
J: kinda good in comps hacking things
J: then if i can do it i would work in garena or asiasoft or gameguard companies earn big money though
Me: well, you've made enough for yourself so far, i'm sure that whatever comes, you'll be able to hande it
Me: C++ is very, very, very hard.
J: lol... just need to know the concept and anything can be easy
J: if u really want to do something and really put the effort in it, it will come true :)
Me: yeah... i hope that's true
J: that is true la lol this sentence i learn it from some old uncles
J: they told me if u work hard for the things u want , and no matter what u face, u never give up, one day it will come true
Christ, can you feel me rooting for this kid? He's learning lessons that I learnt when I was way past my 21st birthday.
From the exchange we had on the MMOFPS game, I asked him to add me on facebook (I really wanted to know if he was bullshitting me). His facebook profile seemed to support his story so far. My blogpost probably doesn't reflect how powerful his story is. Somewhere in J's story there's a girlfriend that he broke up with because he thought that he couldn't take care of her, and parental rejection, a shitload of hardwork, and an appreciation for the simple things of life (games are just to make us happy la!).
Another nugget:
J: if u got read the bible
J: Every single one of us came to the world for a mission. For a reason. Find out your mission and fulfill it!
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My message to J:
Thank you for your story, bro. Your story is just beginning, and it could end in tears and tragedy (debt, drug addiction, laziness). But I have a feeling you will be just about as successful as you want to be. You have already conquered so many mountains -- and you are only SEVENTEEN.
I mean this with all my heart. J, keep on working hard, and please enjoy the good moments.
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You may have noticed that J asked me if I remembered him. Well, I think I do. We used to curse and swear at each other while playing the MMOFPS, for stupid and sundry reasons. I guess we managed to surpass that (insignificant) barrier and talk to each other as human beings.
And that's what we all want, isn't it?
Take a look at the person next to you on the MRT, and realise that they have a beautiful story too.
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Mark 12:28-34
28And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
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