The Power of Love

Growing up and going through a childhood can be both fun and fearsome. Ask any parents and see. Who would have forgotten the time when we were toddler, we crawled here and there, chewed almost everything that we held, no matter how many times we were told not to? Who would have forgotten the time when we were sent to kindergarten, and we would curled under the blanket, refused to get up and go to school? Who would have forgotten the time when we went into primary school, our parents had to coughed out numerous digits of money just to buy us bags and books (okay, this is exaggerated)? And which parents would say that they didn't worry about their children when they were in the secondary school? Secondary school life, or 13 to 17 years old to be exact, is where a child's characteristic is determined. Every one of us know that we reach puberty starting from 13 years old, and end at circa 18 years old. Puberty is the time our characteristics, our personalities, our attitude are shaped based mainly on the environment we grew during that time. That is, if you grew up with bullies, chances are you will be violence in the near future, or vice versa. Statistics show that more and more teenagers are succumbed in violence, like fighting, bullying, or even drugs. Some of them knew the danger of these activities, but they still do it. What exactly do they lack? To me, I would say they lack the love from parents. I myself had been through this situation before. Growing up in a middle-class family, my parents work hard to earn a living, to make ends meet. I wasn't excellent in my UPSR exams, so I couldn't follow my brothers' footsteps to study in good schools like English College (EC). I was sent to Tun Aminah there. Months before the school reopened, my elder brother warned my dad to keep an eye on me because "Tun Aminah is notorious for its gangsterism." I wasn't really believe my bro until I studied in that school. I witnessed by my own self, the fightings, the bullying, the gangsters. They would stop at nothing to just punch you or slap you. I was in the premier class, so these things, these... "plague of the society" as I would like to call it. But that doesn't mean I never met with such situations. What makes me a "stubborn" guy who doesn't even move when gangsters push me? I was challenged by some gangsters some times, but I didn't mix with them. What makes me so strong? I had actually think about this... and came out with a reasonable explanation. I guess it's the love from my family members that makes me a better person. Each time I was asked to do some "nasty" things (no, not drugs or smoking, but maybe some fights and pranks), first thing I would think of is, "What will my parents feel about this?" or "What will my parents react when they know about this?". Then I would think even deeper... "Dad and Mom work so hard just to make ends meet, and they would buy me almost anything I wanted. I complained about the obsolete computer, and they eventually upgraded it to so-so; I requested for a PS2, and Dad eventually buy for me after my PMR exams (even though he said he would buy it IF I scored well in my exams, which I didn't). Will they feel good about what I have done, or what I will be doing? After all, they sacrificed almost all they could, and yet I repay them like this. Am I a good child? Do I live up to their expectations? Have I become who they have always wanted me to be? I seriously doubt it. I know my parents had, have, and always will, hope us to be successful in life. I dare not do a thing to make my parents feel sad, or regret, or disappointed, or remorse, or even hopeless, or whatever. But, after all I had done, I don't think I have done a thing they can be proud of." That's why I never involved in negative activities like drugs or smoking or fighting or bullying. Luckily, all my friends are quite good, meaning they also don't involved in these activities, instead, they actually helped me to slim down by "infecting" me with the "football madness". Anyway, it is the love from my family that keeps me away from taking the wrong path, and I am very grateful I have such a wonderful and caring family. Such is The Power of Love!