Not sure if I’ve ever become a productive citizen from that early experience but the probation officer’s job was to reduce crime. How he chose to do it revealed his concern and empathy for little rats like me who did feel we “belonged” and felt no responsibility to anyone else.
This was the first time in my life it felt like an adult other than my parents noticed me. It was quite strange that the things I did as a person (and not just a kid following adult orders) were a subject of conversation. To me, this shows how strong the need to be noticed can be and it doesn’t end–a person allowed to suppose they matter will not lose that sense.
Sure the guy was there to get information leading to arrests and no one grassed on each other but process was effective. My behaviour changed as I now felt part of something–as if I’d gone through an initiation. This is part of school’s failure, it’s not your world to be a person in, it’s someone else’s.