Driven by a passion for safety and security, Ms Rebekah Sew will be embarking on a journey into intelligence work through the MHA Local Merit Scholarship.
By: Christabelle Lim
For Ms Rebekah Sew, the path to becoming a scholarship recipient was driven by a clear purpose: to build a career that allows her to leverage her critical thinking and problem-solving skills in service of Singapore’s safety and security.
It was a well-loved local programme that first piqued her interest in policing. “Growing up, I was always drawn to shows such as Crimewatch,” she recalled. “It opened my eyes to the complexities of human behaviour and the impact that the Police can have on society!”
Rebekah was also intrigued by the evolution of crime trends and patterns, like the shift from in-person scams to increasingly sophisticated online fraud. “This early interest laid the foundation for my aspirations in crime analysis as part of intelligence work,” she shared.
Entering the Intelligence Arena
Through research and insightful conversations with a professional in the field, the spark was ignited. The opportunity to delve into complex cases, analyse crime patterns and outsmart criminal networks resonated deeply with Rebekah.
“I really enjoy the process of investigation, whereby you’re given a problem or crime to solve,” she explained, “and are required to analyse it from various perspectives, or even think out of the box to come to a fresh conclusion.”
Rebekah will be pursuing a degree in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, and a second Major in Data Analytics, at the Nanyang Technological University. After her studies, she’ll join the Police Intelligence Department, and begin her journey as a civilian officer under the Home Team Specialist Scheme in the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
Serving the Public, Now and in the Future
Beyond her academic and professional aspirations, Rebekah shared that it was her experiences as the Executive Director of Budding Minds, a volunteer-run tutoring and mentoring organisation, that prompted her to join the Public Service. Budding Minds offers supplementary tuition to primary and secondary students in need at three venues – Henderson Road, Marine Terrace and Jurong West.
“It’s a privilege to be able to contribute to making advancements that directly benefit a wider group of Singaporeans,” she explained. “I’m excited about the skills I can pick up along the way in the SPF, the experiences I’ll gain, and, most importantly, the chance to work with like-minded people who share a similar passion for safeguarding our community!”
The Singapore Police Force Scholarship and MHA Scholarship Award Ceremony 2024
The Ministry of Home Affairs Scholarships comprise the SPF Scholarship as well as other uniformed and civilian scholarships. The scholarships are conferred on outstanding individuals who share the Home Team’s values of Honour and Unity, and are passionate about our mission to keep Singapore safe and secure.
In total, MHA awarded 32 scholarships this year. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients and all the best for your studies!