Be A Guardian spotlights exciting career, scholarship and sponsorship opportunities in the Home Team.

Instead of pursuing his undergraduate studies after graduating with a near-perfect polytechnic Grade Point Average of 3.8 out of 4, Micah Lee chose to sign-on with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 2014. He did this to fulfil a childhood ambition of becoming a Police officer, and so as not to place a financial burden on his parents. 
But perhaps a more remarkable fact about Micah is how growing up in a large family (with eight siblings, no less) has shaped him as a person and as a Police officer.

His hard work has paid off as he’s currently pursuing a full-time Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at the National University of Singapore under a Ministry of Home Affairs Scholarship. We caught up with Micah before he went off for his first lecture of the day.



Hi Micah, could you tell us more about yourself?
My family is very big and I’m the youngest of eight children. I decided to sign on with the SPF for several reasons, the most important of which is that I’ve been attracted to law enforcement since I was a teenager. Additionally, my brother is an officer with the Singapore Prison Service. Listening to his stories about how he was able to turn lives around in prison inspired me to make a difference in my own way, with the SPF. 

So what do you love about being a Police officer?
The job is very real. You realise that everyone has struggles, regardless of where they are on the socioeconomic ladder. A lawyer or doctor can face the same challenges as a janitor – have a family dispute, lose his possessions or, at some point, become a victim of crime. So Policing is incredibly meaningful because it lets me use my time and skills to help others in a very direct way.

 
You grew up in a large family. How has that shaped you?
Coming from a large family, you have to be considerate of one another. I think that was the biggest “skill” I took away from my youth. It forced me to think from someone else’s perspective, and it’s a fantastic skill to have in the SPF because we can come up with better solutions if we approach an issue from multiple viewpoints.

Tell us about a memorable case you attended to.
During one particular call, my partner and I had to attend to an unconscious three-year-old child who was suffering from a high fever. The child was still breathing, so that was good. Thinking on my feet, I got some ice-cold compresses in order to bring his temperature down. He slowly regained consciousness, and by the time the ambulance arrived, the child was able to speak, although he was still quite weak. 

The relief on the parents’ faces was indescribable – I was very concerned because he could have had suffered brain damage from the fever. The parents said a quick “thank you” before rushing off to the hospital, but I think the sense of relief and accomplishment we felt was more than enough for us, really. One of the greatest satisfactions from the job is when we can transform that sense of helplessness into hope.

You’re currently pursuing your studies on a scholarship. How has it been so far? 
Transitioning from work to school was a little difficult at first. In my first week, I got lost on campus, but it’s better now!

I’ve chosen to major in Political Science to help me to understand the world better. Learning about Public Policy and Governance will prepare me to take on new roles in the future. I’m also planning to take modules in Sociology to deepen my understanding of social and cultural issues. Knowledge is power, and the more I learn and understand, the better I’ll be at tackling different problems. 

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Be A Guardian
Turning the spotlight on exciting career, scholarship and sponsorship opportunities in the Home Team: 
Be A Guardian: Serving with Heart (SPF)
Be A Guardian: A Calling to Serve (SPS) 
Be A Guardian: In the Heart of the Action (SCDF)
Be A Guardian: An Eye for Investigations (CNB)
Be A Guardian: One Job, Many Facets (CNB)
Be A Guardian: Making an Impact Where It Counts (SPF)
Be A Guardian: Pushing Herself to Her Limit (SPF)
Be A Guardian: Having a Heart for Those in Need (SCDF)
Be A Guardian: Guiding Inmates onto the Right Path (SPS)
Be A Guardian: Ever Vigilant (ICA)
Be A Guardian: Turning Helplessness to Hope (SPF)
Be A Guardian: Engineering a Fresh Start (MHA)
Be A Guardian: One with the Community (SPF)
Be A Guardian: Empowering Inmates on Their Rehabilitation Journey (SPS)

A Career in the Home Team
If you’re keen to learn more about becoming a Home Team Guardian, visit the MHA website.