Went to Yuan Ching after meeting Tp & PJ today to do my own closure with the mentees together with Yating… It was very coincidental that we turned up in the alleged 情侣装 (alleged by the mentees of course). I think this is the second occasion that we managed a similar dressing. The 1st was the Camp Survivor. Thanks Yating for keeping me company while waiting for them! Anyway, my closure is actually very simple. I actually focus on 5 main points.
1.
I had a great time with them, and in my opinion, the year is definitely not wasted. This is especially so from the fact that the 1st few sessions was so quiet and uninspiring. Yet 8 months later, everything is so much different. Lessons were learnt, and 2 of them especially stood out. 1st was the footballing lesson on how to deal with adversities on the field, to Zhong Rong. 2nd was the one given to Chenghao, on why parents behaved in a certain way, and how to gain their trust by behaving responsibly. Hope they still remember.
2.
Next point was brought up. SMP has come to an end. I am their mentor no more, and they no longer my mentees. In future they will treat me as their equal, and maybe their senior. They have to behave responsibly though I will be there as their senior. To that, they were saying that they already treat me as their equal long time ago. Ha-ha. Yet I can see a bit of reluctance in their face as they come to terms of the end of SMP. I already told them the reason that they shouldn’t be in SMP. (For all those people who want to know why, it’s actually in one of my blog entry).
3.
If I ever be a mentor in the 8th cycle, I would want them to be my Part Time Mentors! I do believe that it’s very important for the past mentees to share their experiences with the future mentees. Reason is very simple. Mentors can’t be in school all the time. As such, an old boy would definitely help things more often. Something similar to the seniors helping the juniors in CCAs.
4.
Sorry Chenghao and Zhongrong, but I feel that I am also supposed to do a closure with your parents too! I wanted them to feel more towards the both of you and I know that you guys love them too, and would like to expect the same love from them. Of course, I am very sure they love you boys too, but many a times I am sure we can’t see that, because we take it for granted too often. Of course I would also focus on how they had grown to be more mature in the past year.
In short, they had become
More confident and understanding.
Love their family, and parents, please try to encourage them.
Can be lazy, but don’t go too hard on them. Make them see the reason behind, rather than forcing them to comply.
Time is needed to change their behavior (Rude, addiction to games, and addiction to PC). Encouragement once in a while doesn’t help. It’s definitely a must to keep affirming their actions and achievement.
5.
Lastly I told them not to worry. I am always a call away. And the 1st event after this closure will be the parents’ closure, followed by another meeting on Saturday, and finally a last meeting next week, before I break for exams. Do read my letters in the meantime, and that applies to you, Calvin too! No longer a mentor-mentee relationship, but don’t worry, we will be friends in many many years to come…
