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I’m Ru Xin, an undergraduate from the National University of Singapore and I recently completed my six-month internship with Police Life.
Looking back, it’s been quite a journey. I started this internship as a complete novice at journalistic writing and photography. If you’d asked me what the difference was between shutter speed, aperture and ISO, I’d have been at a loss for words.
Thankfully, I’ve come out of this internship with more skills in my toolbox and a clearer idea of my strengths. Here are three key experiences from my time at Police Life!
When Inspiration Strikes
I’m screwed, I thought. I have no idea how to start writing this article.
“Everything okay, Ru Xin?” my colleague Domnic asked. Along with a fellow intern, Glenn, we were on our way to the Home Team Academy for a photoshoot with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) Band’s Drum Major for the National Day Parade – Senior Staff Sergeant (SSSgt) Muhammad Faisal Banjuwi.
I plastered on a smile. “Yes, everything’s great!” I replied.
In truth, I was extremely worried. What if my first article doesn’t come out right? What if I can’t write anything? What if my article turns out to be a dismal failure?
Stop ruminating, Ru Xin, I reminded myself. You’re not alone in this.
I carried that thought through our first meeting with SSSgt Faisal as we scouted for suitable photoshoot spots around the Academy… and my article ideas? Still zero.
“This is where we practise,” SSSgt Faisal mentioned as we walked into the SPF Band’s Concert Guild. Curious officers glanced our way, wondering why three strangers were observing their practice.
Sensing this, SSSgt Faisal smiled and said, “They’ll be taking pictures of me, so pretend to love me more!”
As laughter broke out among the officers, a light bulb went off in my head. Write that down! My inner voice screamed at me as I quickly typed the quote into my phone.
I could see the article taking shape in my head, all centred around that one quote. Suddenly, SSSgt Faisal wasn’t just a one-dimensional profilee I had to write about; he was a multifaceted person – a father, a musician and even a budding pilot!
From that moment on, I began to seek the human side of every story, profile and event I covered as a journalist. That quote reminded me that there’s always something to uncover for each article – you just have to find it.
Fake It till You Make It
Picture this: you’re tasked with photographing three scholarship recipients for an article, due to be published the day after the event. You’ve recently gotten acquainted with the workings of a digital camera, but your confidence in handling one? That remained under question.
So what do you do? For me, it was printing out a detailed shot list, having a vague vision in mind and crossing my fingers that everything would go smoothly.
Still, I was inexplicably nervous. I stumbled through giving directions to the recipients with my “ahhs” and “umms,” and my heartbeat noticeably sped up as I showed them my photos for review.
That was until I showed one scholarship recipient her photos.
“I love your camera settings,” she exclaimed. “They’re really great!”
I was bewildered – not because I didn’t believe her, but because I had no idea what I was doing. The entire time, I’d been adjusting the camera settings based on my gut feeling, still feeling a bit lost.
Her words were a calming balm for my anxiety. They also made me realise that perhaps things weren’t as bad as I’d thought after all.
Taking Care of Myself
Squinting in the sunlight, I asked myself: How many photos are too many?
I was at the Kallang Water Sports Centre, a camera bag on my shoulder and nerves jangling about my first full-fledged photography assignment: the 2025 Police Dragon Boat Championships.
Accompanying me was my Assistant Director, Mike, who was shielding his eyes from the sun. “Let’s put our bags and equipment down somewhere,” he said. “Then we can get started with the set-up.”
Suddenly, I recalled the brief he’d emailed the day before: “Note that we’re not doing comprehensive event coverage. You’ll be shooting selectively, journalistically, for a photo feature. Your deliverables: A selection of 20 photos.”
Twenty photos? That number seemed insurmountable, until I started shooting. The officers participating in the event, the dragon boat races, the cheering… the list of subjects went on.
The problem shifted from lack to excess – I filled an entire memory card and had to ask Mike for a replacement. I wondered to myself: How am I going to pick 20 photos from the hundreds I’d shot?
While all of this was happening, I also mulled over my performance as an intern. I mustered up the courage to ask Mike, “Am I doing okay so far?”
He looked at me thoughtfully. “I think you’re doing alright, but more importantly, you need to take care of yourself.”
He was right. Throughout the couple of hours we’d spent at the event, I was so preoccupied with shooting photos that I’d only taken a few sips of water.
I really need to take care of myself more, I thought.
“Also,” he said as he pointed behind me, “please don’t fall into the water.”
Looking Forward
As I write this, my internship has officially come to an end, but the lessons I've learnt will stay with me for years to come.
From that first panicked moment wondering how to start an article to discovering that inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places, I now realise that journalism isn’t just about technical skills or perfect execution. It's about staying curious, being open to the human stories that unfold around you and trusting your instincts even when you're not entirely sure what you’re doing.
Most importantly, I’ve learnt that growth happens not in isolation, but through the support of colleagues who remind you to take care of yourself, mentors who guide you through your uncertainties and even the people you interview who unknowingly boost your confidence with a simple compliment.
To those starting your internship journey, my advice is this: embrace the uncertainty, seek out the human stories and don't forget to stay hydrated. You might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.
