This article is about an ex-drug trafficker, Glenn Lim, getting the Asean Youth Award for outstanding contributions to the society. He was once a rebellious youth who was busted by the police for drug trafficking. Now, he has won the most prestigious recognition for youths with outstanding contributions in Asean countries. This is a very good example of how a defiant youth can change for the better when given a chance and when there is determination.

Mr. Lim is a very brave person who has the courage to face the world again after his jail term. He was firm about turning into a new leaf and to start all over again. He was not even discouraged when he was rejected by the public. There was once when he had to take a urine test at the Causeway checkpoint because he was in jail before. However, he did not give up the chance to redeem himself from trafficking drugs by being optimistic and carry on with his new life.

He wrote the book titled “Wake up Call” to remind himself as well as others especially ex-jailbirds to turn over a new leaf and not to give up on themselves by committing crimes again. It also warns other people particularly the youths who are more prone to make mistakes in their lives not to commit any crime and think carefully before one does anything.

With this example, ex-jailbirds should be given one more chance by the society to turn over a new leaf. This is what the recent Yellow Ribbon Project aims to do for the ex-jailbirds to help them. We should all try to accept them as everyone makes mistakes except that they make a more major mistake than others.