WHEN Mr Edwin Lim (main head picture) first joined the prison service right after his national service stint, he admitted to being a little intimidated.

He was then only 22.

He recalled: "I was young and most of the inmates were bigger than me."

It didn't help that his mother also had her concerns, he said.

But both their worries turned out to be unfounded when he got to know the prisoners under his charge and earned their trust and respect.

Now, after more than six years with the Singapore Prison Service, Mr Lim, 28, is passionate about his job in this organisation.

He is currently a personnel officer.

He said: "I joined just to try it out. But the job became interesting once I started to know the inmates. The passion for it came without my knowing it."

Mr Lim's first posting after his initial training was to Tanah Merah Prison - a high-security institution.

The prisoners under his charge were those convicted of offences like robbery and cheating. Some were repeat offenders.

He was a personal supervisor taking care of a group of inmates and their basic needs.

He also counselled those under his charge.

He said: "When I got to know them better, most of them opened up to share their problems with me.

"We built up a certain level of trust and that overcame my worries."

It also helped that he had a more senior officer as a coach.

All junior officers are assigned a coach, or mentor, who takes charge of their personal development in the prison service.

He said: "I was fortunate to have a coach to guide me on how to handle certain situations."

Up till today, Mr Lim said, he still taps on his coach's wealth of experience and asks him for guidance.

He said that he had a discussion with his coach about it. His coach told him what he would do, but left the eventual decision to him.

There are also courses that he can attend to hone his skills, for example, in counselling and stress management.

After three years at Tanah Merah, he said, he was posted as a workshop officer to oversee the prisoners during their work sessions.

About 1 1/2 years later, he was assigned to the staff development division as a personnel officer doing human resource work.

Meanwhile, Mr Lim, who joined the organisation as an O-level holder, studied part-time at ITE Tampines. He graduated with a Higher Nitec in information technology in October 2006.

He said that while a prison officer's job is challenging as there is a constant need to balance discipline with rehabilitation in his interactions with the inmates, it is rewarding as he feels he can make a difference in their lives.

"I advise them to change. Most of them are in prison due to a number of reasons.

"If I can work it out with them as to why they did what they did, I may be able to change their thinking and their lives."

What does he find most satisfying about his work?

He replied that it is when he receives thank-you cards from prisoners who have left and turned over a new leaf.

They have also inspired him to continue with his work.

He said: "When I get the cards from the prisoners who have left telling me that they are fine and thanking me for my hard work, it makes me feel very much appreciated.

"That's when I also know, I've made a difference."

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