Each time she puts on her uniform, Hazel Wong feels her quiet strength emerge.
The crisp navy-blue uniform of an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer has given this self-confessed introvert the confidence to step out of her shell.
After months of training at the Home Team Academy, Hazel is equipped with the skills and knowledge to carry out her job at ICA. More importantly, she has gained a newfound confidence to engage, communicate and lead.
“In a new environment, I am a bit more shy,” she says, “but when I am in uniform, I feel I am confident enough to get the job done.”
What has surprised her is how the simple act of wearing the uniform draws out her inner qualities and eases her transition into her front-line role. Having started working full-time since November last year, the 23-year-old now oversees a team of 14 in her position as a group leader at Woodlands Checkpoint, one of the busiest checkpoints in the world.
“When I am in uniform, I can carry out my duties with pride and confidence,” Hazel adds. “It’s a reminder of the role I play and the standards I strive to uphold every day.”
Uniformed groups have always been a big part of Hazel’s growing-up years. She recalls fondly her first close-up encounter with firefighters and police officers on Total Defence Day when she was in Primary 2, which inspired her to join the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) in secondary school.
“The firefighters and police officers demonstrated their equipment and roles, sparking my interest in an exciting non-deskbound job,” says Hazel.
By Secondary 3, Hazel’s leadership potential shone through when she was elected student council president at CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School.
She continued to build on her ability to lead at Eunoia Junior College, serving as a cadet inspector in NPCC and later, as an honorary officer mentoring young cadets.
“When I am in uniform, I can carry out my duties with pride and confidence.”
– Hazel Wong, recipient of the MHA Uniformed Scholarship (ICA)
Her foundation from uniformed groups carried Hazel through her undergraduate years at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where she pursued a sociology degree while undergoing NPCC honorary officer training and competing in taekwondo.
Yet, beneath this packed schedule, doubt often crept in. “I questioned whether I could handle it all,” she recalls.
Receiving the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Uniformed Scholarship, which she applied for during her first semester, changed everything.
The scholarship felt like a vote of confidence – a moment that validated her potential. With a career at ICA awaiting her after graduation, each challenge became a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block.
“The scholarship boosted my confidence as it showed that ICA believed in me and trusted my potential,” she says.
Beyond the financial support given by the scholarship, Hazel was paired with a mentor, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) Samantha Koh, after receiving the scholarship in 2021.
“She offered advice readily,” Hazel says. “Knowing I could reach out to her for guidance at any time has been invaluable.”
Through their discussions, DAC Samantha also offered Hazel a window into ICA – from its daily operations to career pathways. These conversations helped Hazel envision her future in the organisation with greater clarity.
In her third year at NUS, Hazel seized the chance to spend a semester at the University of Melbourne. The time living by herself abroad transformed how she approached challenges.
“Being independent made me more resourceful,” she explains. “Instead of always asking for help, living overseas forced me to first think of how to solve problems on my own.”
The experience opened her eyes in unexpected ways. During a master’s-level course she found herself among older international students.
“What struck me most was how they handled disagreement,” Hazel recalls. “They would openly express their differing opinions but always framed them respectfully, ensuring their points came across clearly.”
These lessons on the art of communication now shape how Hazel navigates workplace conversations at ICA.
“I’ve learnt to articulate my thoughts constructively and respectfully, even when differences arise,” she adds.
At Woodlands Checkpoint, Hazel’s foundational posting is just the beginning of her ICA journey.
Down the road, she will be taking on roles in other departments, such as ground operations or policy development, to broaden her experience and build the expertise she needs to make meaningful changes within the organisation.
Even though she has only been on the job for less than three months, she is already looking at ways to improve work processes to create a positive work environment at the checkpoint.
“Sometimes, members of public lash out at our officers when they do not understand the need for certain procedures, which leaves our officers feeling demoralised,” says Hazel. “Such emotions will eventually get to them if it happens every day.”
Hazel plans to schedule regular one-on-one sessions with her team members to let them voice their concerns so she can better understand their challenges and support them in their work.
“Thanks to the scholarship, I have been supported from the very beginning with valuable advice and guidance. Now, I look forward to mentoring others and making my journey at ICA count for something bigger than myself,” she says.
| About the MHA Uniformed Scholarship Depending on your interests and aspirations, this scholarship will allow you to kick-start your leadership journey as a uniformed officer in one of five Home Team departments: Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), or as a paramedic with SCDF. |
This article is brought to you by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
