Lift yourself up, Ashley

Dearest Ashley,

I hope you remember what your parents said to you last night. More importantly, I hope you remembered what you promised us and yourself that we would not receive such letters from your teachers. Your mischievous behaviour in class is not acceptable.

This is not the first time. You are getting overboard. As what Dad said to you, you either choose going up or down. If you continue such mischievous behaviour, you will naturally go down. Look around you. You are lifted by your parents, grandparents, teachers and many people who love and care for you. Look within yourself. Who is stepping on you and crushing you? You.

Why do you continue to misbehave in class despite your parents and teachers' advice?

Self-regulation and self realisation have to come from you. Nobody can make you realise that. We can only guide you as much as we could. If you refuse to listen, you will bear the consequence.

I shared with you the story of my friend, a gangster turned a successful business man. He was the most mischievous boy in school. He would throw a cat from the 4th floor of his school building, smoked and skipped school, agrued with the teacher and even hit the teacher. The news of him fighting the teacher came out in the papers. He was severely punished for such unacceptable bad behaviour. His Principal informed his parents of the corporate punishment to be conducted in front of the entire school. His Dad came to witness the corporate punishment and requested the Principal to double the caning.

After this incident, he still did not realise until at 18 years old, he was involved in a gang fight and he almost killed someone. In the jail, he reflected on his past actions and was very remorsed that he has caused so much pain to his parents. Since young, he was very jealous of his younger brother. He did all these just to catch his parent's attention. When he looked back, he felt so foolish. His parents love him as much as his brother. It was his jealousy that blurred his judgement. Once he realised his wrong doing and more importantly, his capability, he studied hard and tried his very best to make up for the lost time in school and with his family. Now, he is a successful businessman and he is very close to his parents and his only brother.

Though it is a happy ending but not many are as lucky as my friend. His family never give up on him. However, many have fallen and never stood up. They continued to be in their darkest and loneliest cell. Mother does not wish that you go through the struggle my friend went through. It pains me so much that you are stepping on yourself while we are doing our best to lift you up. You are a talented and capable young man. If you put your heart in class, pay full attention to the teachers, you will not have the urge to talk in class and misbehave in class.

All said. The choice is yours. We love you, son.

Yours,
Mummy awaiting to see the shining star in class