“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” — or can they? 12-year-old Adam* grew up hearing how he was doomed to failure after bringing home one too many disappointing report cards. Yet, all it took was a chance encounter with a positive role model to give him the confidence he needed to persevere and succeed in spite of his naysayers.

At just 12 years old, Adam* carries himself with confidence and quick wit. But not too long ago, things looked very different for the preteen. 

Before joining the Singapore Red Cross’ (SRC) Young Hearts (YH) Programme, Adam struggled with his studies and lacked self-confidence due to poor grades in school. This led to his parents and teachers inevitably enforcing the narrative that Adam would not “make it in school” — or in life, for that matter.

The oldest of three children, Adam inherited the responsibility of handling all the household chores and caring for his younger siblings. When he finally gets the chance for a little shut-eye, sleep would often get interrupted by fights between his mother and sister. 

Young But Resilient

As fate would have it, a scroll through social media landed Adam on a post about the Young Hearts Programme. Intrigued about the centre’s activities and desperate for some peace and quiet, Adam began seeking solace in the company of Teacher Alif. 

“Teacher Alif uses his own experiences to teach me about life, and it's inspiring. I consider him as my role model! The YH teachers have helped me with my confidence levels, teaching me what is wrong and what is right. They also teach us about responsibility and how we are to care for the younger ones. One of my favourite memories was Games Day for the boys. We hung out with Teacher Alif and played games. Teacher Alif even tried to offer his advice on how to impress girls — but nobody wanted his advice!”

Thankfully, Adam knew he had his whole life ahead of him to chase skirts. Instead, he focused on his studies, trying harder as Teacher Alif encouraged, and eventually passed the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). 

Thank You, Teacher Alif

His one advice to others? “Keep trying and don’t listen to negativity. Believe in yourself!”

With the help of positive role models, Adam is now able to regulate stress in a healthy manner and build meaningful friendships. With this renewed sense of confidence, he looks beyond his current circumstances into the future where he sees himself becoming a professional football player just like his father.  

“Even though I am naughty, thank you Teacher Alif for being there for me no matter what. Thank you for giving me a chance and for building up my confidence.”

Written by Clara Lim, Marketing & Communications
Edited by Eunice Sng, Marketing & Communications