Jordyn’s Journey from Trauma to Transformation
From abuse and addiction to newfound purpose, Jordyn Lew is rebuilding her life with courage and compassion.
By Gladys Chua
Jordyn’s Journey from Trauma to Transformation
From abuse and addiction to newfound purpose, Jordyn Lew is rebuilding her life with courage and compassion.
By Gladys Chua
Jordyn sharing her story during the "My World Without You" event.
Jordyn Lew never felt safe at home. Raised by a single mother, she often found comfort in the care of her grandparents.
However, when her grandmother passed away, everything changed. Acts committed by her own grandfather shattered her sense of security.
Seeking refuge, she turned to her school counsellor for help and was referred to a children’s home. Jordyn begged her mother, crying, to not send her into the home, but to no avail.
At the young age of 10, Jordyn was living away from her family. Yet, this was only the beginning of her struggles.
Jordyn (top left, in blue) celebrating the festive season with peers and mentors at a community event.
When she eventually returned home, the abuse started again. This time, it was at the hands of her mother’s partner. As she sat in the hospital giving her statement, she was determined to never step foot in that house again.
She pleaded with her hostel counsellors to take her in, and they did. This time, Jordyn was glad to be able to be away from home.
The system could only shelter her for so long. When Jordyn had to leave, she refused to return home. She spent as little time there as possible, drifting through temporary arrangements until she met her then-partner.
Together, they found a place to stay. For a while, things seemed stable until an unexpected visit from a friend changed everything.
They were introduced to drugs. At first, Jordyn resisted. Eventually, the weight of peer pressure became too much to bear. Before she realised it, she was hooked.
Jordyn (left) engaging in a conversation during “The Reunion” Chinese New Year livestream event.
One day, after using, she dozed off at the staircase landing of her block. When she woke up, two policemen were standing over her.
She was in shock. She had always known this day would come but she never thought it would be this soon. Prison was a strange comfort at first as she saw many familiar faces around. For a time, she did not think about life outside prison.
However, one by one they left. It was then that the solitude set in and reality hit her hard. Feeling alone, she wondered when she would see her mother again.
Jordyn began thinking about the world outside of prison. She missed her freedom, she missed being able to do whatever, whenever she wanted.
Jordyn (second from right, in red) with fellow volunteers and mentors at an outreach booth for Architects of Life.
Three months into her sentence, Jordyn’s mother finally visited. The moment Jordyn saw her mother, she broke down in tears. The sight of her mother stirred emotions she had not allowed herself to feel in a long time.
From that day on, Jordyn’s mother visited her every day, something Jordyn would always be grateful.
Soon after, Jordyn was placed on a work-release scheme. Determined to leave her past behind, she held onto the people who gave her strength – her then-partner’s child, just six years old and left to navigate life alone, and her mother, who had tirelessly traveled long distances to visit and support her.
Despite her best intentions, temptation proved too much when she saw her partner using drugs again. She relapsed.
Jordyn’s wake-up call came in the form of her partner’s infidelity. This betrayal helped her realise that her partner was not worthy of her love. She no longer wanted a life consumed by drugs. Jordyn made up her mind and distanced herself from her partner. She had lost all access to substances.
Yet, despite her newfound sobriety, she found herself consumed by anger and loneliness once more.
Jordyn (right) volunteering at a "XOA" event with Jesslyn.
It is not until in recent years, when she met Jesslyn, that life started to seem hopeful.
Jesslyn helped her see what drugs had taken from her – her freedom, her dreams, her future. More importantly, she showed Jordyn that she was capable of leaving her past behind. For the first time in years, Jordyn saw a real chance at change.
Jesslyn encouraged her to chase her dreams, to become a nurse like she had always wanted. Step by step, Jordyn started saving up and planning her return to school.
Jordyn sharing her story during the "My World Without You" event.
Jordyn Lew never felt safe at home. Raised by a single mother, she often found comfort in the care of her grandparents.
However, when her grandmother passed away, everything changed. Acts committed by her own grandfather shattered her sense of security.
Seeking refuge, she turned to her school counsellor for help and was referred to a children’s home. Jordyn begged her mother, crying, to not send her into the home, but to no avail.
At the young age of 10, Jordyn was living away from her family. Yet, this was only the beginning of her struggles.
Jordyn (top left, in blue) celebrating the festive season with peers and mentors at a community event.
When she eventually returned home, the abuse started again. This time, it was at the hands of her mother’s partner. As she sat in the hospital giving her statement, she was determined to never step foot in that house again.
She pleaded with her hostel counsellors to take her in, and they did. This time, Jordyn was glad to be able to be away from home.
The system could only shelter her for so long. When Jordyn had to leave, she refused to return home. She spent as little time there as possible, drifting through temporary arrangements until she met her then-partner.
Together, they found a place to stay. For a while, things seemed stable until an unexpected visit from a friend changed everything.
They were introduced to drugs. At first, Jordyn resisted. Eventually, the weight of peer pressure became too much to bear. Before she realised it, she was hooked.
Jordyn (left) engaging in a conversation during “The Reunion” Chinese New Year livestream event.
One day, after using, she dozed off at the staircase landing of her block. When she woke up, two policemen were standing over her.
She was in shock. She had always known this day would come but she never thought it would be this soon. Prison was a strange comfort at first as she saw many familiar faces around. For a time, she did not think about life outside prison.
However, one by one they left. It was then that the solitude set in and reality hit her hard. Feeling alone, she wondered when she would see her mother again.
Jordyn began thinking about the world outside of prison. She missed her freedom, she missed being able to do whatever, whenever she wanted.
Jordyn (second from right, in red) with fellow volunteers and mentors at an outreach booth for Architects of Life.
Three months into her sentence, Jordyn’s mother finally visited. The moment Jordyn saw her mother, she broke down in tears. The sight of her mother stirred emotions she had not allowed herself to feel in a long time.
From that day on, Jordyn’s mother visited her every day, something Jordyn would always be grateful.
Soon after, Jordyn was placed on a work-release scheme. Determined to leave her past behind, she held onto the people who gave her strength – her then-partner’s child, just six years old and left to navigate life alone, and her mother, who had tirelessly traveled long distances to visit and support her.
Despite her best intentions, temptation proved too much when she saw her partner using drugs again. She relapsed.
Jordyn’s wake-up call came in the form of her partner’s infidelity. This betrayal helped her realise that her partner was not worthy of her love. She no longer wanted a life consumed by drugs. Jordyn made up her mind and distanced herself from her partner. She had lost all access to substances.
Yet, despite her newfound sobriety, she found herself consumed by anger and loneliness once more.
Jordyn (right) volunteering at a "XOA" event with Jesslyn.
It is not until in recent years, when she met Jesslyn, that life started to seem hopeful.
Jesslyn helped her see what drugs had taken from her – her freedom, her dreams, her future. More importantly, she showed Jordyn that she was capable of leaving her past behind. For the first time in years, Jordyn saw a real chance at change.
Jesslyn encouraged her to chase her dreams, to become a nurse like she had always wanted. Step by step, Jordyn started saving up and planning her return to school.
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