A Life of a Feisty Youth

Kang Jun’s (pseudonym) parents divorced since he was very young, he lives with his grandparents, aunties and sister. In Kang Jun’s primary school years, his daily leisure was lingering at the cybercafé.  Every day, after school he would dumped his school bag at home, without doing any homework and out he went cycling away.

One day, his grandmother got to know of Elim Gospel Hall 7979 Holistic Care Station’s Companionship Class from his cousin sister, she decided to let Kang Jun joined this class, hoping that he would study well, no more wandering around or lingering at cybercafé.      


『An “Angry Boy” with his Fist』
Kang Jun was in his standard 5, when he first joined Companionship Class.

Initially, he did not take his studies seriously, so when the teachers requested him to finish his homework, he couldn’t take it, he responded with his clenched fists, he was clenching his knuckles so hard until it turned white, he was actually trying hard to hold his temper and stayed composed while feeling that he was being treated unfairly. Ever since then, he was named as a “Feisty Boy”.   

Later, when Kang Jun mingle with Companionship Class students for quite some time, he noticed that all the children finished their homework on their own initiatives, this automatically alienated him as he didn’t have any interest in doing his homework, slowly lonely feeling driven him to join the rest of the class and started to do his homework as well.

Other than homework, his character also causing headaches to the teachers. Due to his bad choice of friends, Kang Jun’s character inevitably influenced by their bad tempers and bad habit of speaking foul words.  

“The Bible says, we use our mouth to praise God, at the same time use it to speak foul words to curse others, do you think that is appropriate?” Whenever Teacher Jie Zhi heard he used foul words, she would use this method to correct him. Gradually, Kang Jun stopped speaking foul words, because he knew that was something that displeases God.

Seed of God fearing had slowly sprouted in his heart.


『I hope I can enter into secondary school』

Close to the end of school term, Companionship Class children had to fill up a feedback form, stated down what they had gained and in which area that they had grown in that one whole year.

“Stop behaving badly”, “more focus”, “temper gone down a lot”, “the teachers had cared for me and assisted me” and etc., these are all the feedbacks that Kang Jun wrote down on his form of what he gained and which area he had grown. He, who in the past used to neglect his homework to the extent of impossible to complete, but now his wish was to be able to enter into secondary school, this had really comforted the teachers. Although Kang Jun result didn’t show any significant improvement, but now he realised how important it is to study, therefore he put more effort into it in Companionship Class.      

Two years passed by very quickly, Kang Jun graduated from primary school. Because he failed his BM subject, therefore he had to go to remove (transition) class, however he still continued on with the Companionship Class. After he entered into Form 1, he can no longer joined Companionship Class as it clashed with his afternoon schooling session.

Teacher Jie Zhi didn’t want to let this 3 years relationship from faded away, so she insisted to gather those children who are in secondary school for fellowship, Kang Jun was one of them. From their sharing, the teachers discovered that Kang Jun had mixed with friends who doesn’t like studying, speak foul words, like to hang out at the cybercafé to play online game, Kang Jun’s character is again being affected.    

During that period of time, Kang Jun always went home very late, to the extent that his grandmother had to cycle everywhere looking for him. His grandmother felt frustrated, she ended up seeking help from Companionship Class’s teachers.

Thankfully, although Kang Jun seems to be very rebellious, yet he was teachable.

“Kang Jun, I know that you wanted to go out to play with your friends, but you should not stay outside later than midnight. This kind of behaviour really worries your grandmother.” Teacher Jie Zhi talked patiently to him when she found him.

Later, Kang Jun promised that he would be back before 6p.m., so that his family members will not get worried. Meanwhile, he promised to attend the church’s weekly fellowship, compare to cybercafé, his grandmother felt more assuring that he is willing to go to church.

I hope I can enter into secondary school

『He had grown up unknowingly』
Few years later, he had moved up to morning session, meanwhile the church had also started Secondary School Companionship Class. Once again, the teacher invited Kang Jun to return to Companionship Class, but he refused, not because he was playful, but on the ground that he was worried about his grandparents, they had been suffering from backache, as they are selling herbal tea which was very labour intensive, he needed to stay at home to help them, and accompanied his grandfather in transporting the herbal tea. All the teachers felt that Kang Jun had suddenly grown up, even though they thought what a pity that he was unable to attend the Companionship Class, but his filial actions were more meaningful than anything else.     

In year 2021, Kang Jun turned 18, he was baptised in church and became the first Companionship Class student that received baptism. He just completed his SPM examination, although we know that his result might not be what we are hoping for, and his learning ability is consider a little slow, but best of all Kang Jun is willing to learn and accept all kinds of challenges.

“Our living environment might not be like what we are hoping for, if the environment can’t be change, then we can only choose to adapt.” This is what Teacher Jie Zhi taught Kang Jun. The ability to adapt is very important, if the environment doesn’t change, then we have to learn to adapt, that is the only way to survive.   
  
Kang Jun is about to enter into the society, he hopes to learn some repairing hands on skill for a living. “Hope that he’ll not turn out to be a parasite in our society, as long as he can self-sustain, that is already a great contribution to the society.” Teacher Jie Zhi spoke honestly, everyone has different ability, if we can live a proper life in our circle of life, then the equilibrium of our society will not be broken. 

Lastly, Teacher Jie Zhi offer a blessing to Kang Jun: “Hope that he’ll continue to fear God, as long as he fears God, then all the things he does will be good.” Actually, this is a wish that all Companionship Class teachers have for every Companionship Class student. 

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
James 3:9-10: