The Unexpected Call: A Teacher's Journey from Prison to Wedding

A story from one of our teachers on the team:

“On a rainy November morning in 2016, I was on the way to invigilate an O’ Level paper, when my phone rang. It was a call from the Singapore Prison, informing me that one of my former students, Robert*, wanted to speak with me.

(*name changed)

To say I was surprised by this would be an understatement. I was completely caught off guard.

Robert had been my student three years prior; and he and I had had such a tumultuous relationship filled with shouting matches, detention & counselling sessions, police encounters, and struggles with anger management and academics.

Despite the challenges, I persevered, refusing to give up on him. But when he left school abruptly without graduating, I was overcome with disappointment and assumed my efforts had been in vain. Eventually, with no word from him, I had no choice but to shift my focus to other students in need.

After his departure from school, Robert disappeared from my radar, leaving me uncertain about the impact I had made.

So, when he reached out that morning after three years of silence, I was stunned.

I agreed to take the call and here was the conversation that followed:

“Ma’am - it’s Robert. I got caught for drugs. It’s bad. I’m going to be sentenced for a long time. I know we haven’t spoken in ages and I know I was a bad kid. I’m sorry. I just wanted to ask if you’ll come visit me in prison”.

“Robert - of course I’ll come visit you, but shouldn’t you be calling your family?” I asked, concerned.

“I am”, he replied simply.

---

Now, eight years later, on another rainy day, I’m penning this story, brimming with emotion, having just left Robert’s wedding where I witnessed him exchanging vows with his beautiful bride, truly marking the beginning of his own family.

To all teachers/tutors who put their heart and soul into their work - a humbling reminder that your efforts don’t always go unnoticed.

And in some cases, you’re the only shelter that these kids can hide under during life’s heaviest rainstorms.