MYTC trainee grateful for second chance to change his life (2024)

KOTA KINABALU (May 24): Montfort Youth Training Centre (MYTC) Batch 23’s best trainee, Calvin Josua, is grateful for the opportunities at MYTC which developed him physically, intellectually, spiritually, socially and emotionally.

“Those who know me, know me as a shy and quiet person. My biggest fear was speaking in front of a crowd. But here I am now, speaking on this stage in front of you,” said Calvin after being named the best trainee for Batch 23.

He added that he held on to the verse in the Bible which said:

“Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.”

“I held this verse close to my heart, and it encouraged me throughout my journey in life,” he said in his speech.

Calvin, from the Welding Department, was among the 50 trainees at the residential campus in Kinarut to graduate during the 23rd graduation ceremony held on Friday.

He said that he was adopted from birth and his adoptive parents raised him in Kunak with his younger sister.

“I was just a normal boy who lived in a small environment, and my family wasn’t wealthy. My adoptive mother was a housewife while my father took on various jobs in our village.

“It wasn’t until I turned 16 that I learned about my biological family. I discovered that I have ten siblings, five brothers and five sisters,” he said.

He added that in 2019, tragedy struck when his adoptive mother passed away, leaving him deeply depressed.

“At the same time, my adoptive father became sick, and I had to take care of my younger sister. As a result, I withdrew from school for six months.

“During this difficult time, my grandmother stepped in to care for our family. She urged me to continue my education. She believed in me, and I did it for her, knowing how much it meant to her and so I continued my Form Three education,” he said.

And in 2020, together with his adoptive father and sister, they decided to move to Kg Labak, Kinarut, with the support of his biological family.

“Here, I resumed my studies, continuing my Form Four and SPM at SMK Kinarut,” he said.

He mentioned that he has a cousin who used to study at Montfort and recommended MYTC to him.

“I was unsure because continuing my studies meant we needed money, and I didn’t want to burden my family. So, I tried to find job opportunities, but I had trouble keeping them because of disciplinary issues,” he said.

However, his cousin’s constant encouragement eventually led him to reconsider and in 2022, he attended an interview in Montfort where the interviewer informed him that “this is your second opportunity to change your life through MYTC training”.

“It hit my heart deeply and I immediately changed my mind to then continue my study in Montfort. I was determined to make the most of this second chance,” he said.

He entered Montfort in July 2022 but found it difficult to adapt to the place, its programme and strict rules.

“I found it awkward living with other trainees in the dormitory. Having never lived in a hostel before, the experience was very new to me and so adjusting to the shared living spaces was challenging at first. I had to learn how to get along with different people and adjust to dormitory life. This pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me valuable lessons about living in community, cooperation and building relationships.

This place taught me how to be disciplined and manage my time properly by following the Montfort programme,” he said.

And as an introvert, he found making new friends and communicating with others a challenge.

“Taking the first step to approach and introduce myself was very difficult. However, living here has improved my social skills. During my two years here, I developed deep friendships with some trainees,” he said.

Calvin added that at Montfort, they learned the 6R values: Responsible, able to Respond, Reliable, Respectable, build good Relationships, and Resilient.

“For me personally, the value of being resilient has built my character. There were many times I wanted to give up, especially when I didn’t see any progress in my welding course and English lessons.”

“It was tough for me because I had no basic knowledge of welding. However, I kept reminding myself of this second chance and my goal to achieve my purpose, which helped me overcome negative thoughts,” he said.

Calvin also expressed his gratitude to his mother, and wished she was there to see him at the stage.

“Mom, I wish you were here to see me standing on this stage. This achievement is something I want to share with you, to show you how far I’ve come. I hope you’re happy with what I’ve accomplished.”