All articles filed in You’ve Got Male

Written by Jon van Wyk In today’s poorly delineated world of suffering, in an age defined by rapid change and uncertainty, I am still inspired to know that humanity still turns to hope as a powerful antidote to despair. Grounded in our inbuilt desire for a better future, hope is not merely a philosophy—it’s a…

Written by Jon van Wyk While working in Hong Kong I was invited to a student concert – a regular occurrence. On this occasion, I watched as a young Chinese boy walked on the stage. He couldn’t be more than four or five years old, dressed immaculately in a tuxedo, hair combed down, shiny shoes.…

Written by Jon van Wyk One particular autumn sticks out in my childhood memory. My father got a job repairing a grand old historical home up the coast from where we lived. I thought it would be a good place to explore, so I accompanied him for some adventure. Arriving at the house, somewhat faded…

Written by Jon van Wyk When I was twelve years old, I found myself staring longingly at the shiny new bike in the store window. It had everything: bright red paint, sleek tires, and a shiny chrome bell that sounded like success. Unfortunately, the single coin rattling around in my piggy bank did not encourage…

Written by Jon van Wyk I’ve just spent 15 minutes dodging, ducking, and weaving my way through the evening crowd and I finally have a seat at the restaurant. Not quite ready to order, I gaze languidly at the crowd inside and wonder where the restrooms are. A shabby and obsequiously polite man in new…

Written by Jon van Wyk The question of nature versus nurture is one of the philosophical questions that keeps me up at night. I often wonder if we are just carbon based life forms with some kind of alien pre-programmed genetic code, or are we malleable beings, moulded and shaped by our environment? Scientists and…

Written by Jon van Wyk As I stepped out of an ancient jeepney at Subic Bay, the salty air mingled with the scent of the tropical foliage and scattered debris covered in a thick, choking layer of mud. I had travelled from Hong Kong the day before, on a mission, not just to deliver provisions…

Written by Jon van Wyk A still passionate educator after some 40 years of teaching, I often sit in the quiet corner of a classroom, early morning sun filtering through the windows, and ponder what it truly means to learn. The longer I have taught, the more difficult this question actually becomes to answer, given…

Written by Jon van Wyk Recently, an intriguing email popped into my inbox: “Take Care of Yourself Before Your Neighbours Carry You Out in a Box.” The title caught me off guard, but the message hit home, igniting a New Year’s inspired journey towards a little more self-love than usual. Truth be told, I’m your…