TY - WISE WOMEN 2024
“When things go wrong, see it as a time to start off fresh.”
How wise are you? 52
Where are you from? One of the hardest questions for me to answer is where am I from. I was born in Taiwan, grew up in the Philippines, went to the US for uni and work, moved back to the Philippines, met my Aussie husband in Hong Kong, got married and had our 3 kids there, and moved to Melbourne in 2015. My side of the family all live in the US. I guess I’m from all over the place.
What about your life would you like to celebrate most? I’d like to celebrate the moment I challenged myself to do something I never thought possible, becoming a police officer at the age of 51.
At the tail end of Covid, my husband and I were watching one of my favourite shows, Border Security which was usually followed by Highway Patrol on TV. I love those shows. While making my usual snarky remarks about the show, my husband looked at me and said why don’t I just apply? I scoffed at the idea because why would VicPol want to hire a 50 year old Chinese stay at home mum? My husband kept insisting so I filled out the online form simply to shut him up. I honestly didn’t think I would ever hear from them.
I guess they must have been really desperate because I got an email from VicPol the next day! They said they were interested and told me to schedule my written exam. I couldn’t believe it. I told myself I’ll just play along and see how far I’ll go. At that point I knew I wasn’t going to get far. But as each stage of the application came, I actually passed and moved on to the next, each time knowing this was the stage I’ll fail and go back to normal life.
I did struggle with the fitness test. I was no match for all the kids that went through the fitness test like it was a game or a routine session at the gym. I failed it twice but was given one last chance and actually passed. I did however had to go through 4 personal trainers until I found the right one and a chiropractor who almost acted as my psychologist. I have to say the fitness aspect of it sucked. I still struggle with it to this day.
With the help of my inlaws who thankfully live down the street and my husband, I actually survived the Academy and graduated after their 31 week program in February 2024. Academy was surreal. We had to learn all the basic laws, all the powers police have, basic tactical skills, get gun qualified and complete more fitness tests. I don’t think I would have survived academy had it not been for my inlaws’ help with the kids and my husband’s encouragement. I am still learning as a trainee at my station but am really proud to have gotten so far in the last 2 and a half years.
I honestly think mothers like us would make great police women. We know how to talk to people, we know how to delegate and we know how to boss people around!
I hope my quick snippet into my Victoria Police journey will inspire other women to completely step out of their comfort zone. As a full-time mum, it was a huge leap to take on something so physically demanding, but it led me to an entirely new career at a later state in life and into something I would never have considered! Its a testament to the power of pushing boundaries and believing in ourselves, no matter our age or circumstances.
PS: I’d be happy to answer questions if you feel becoming a police officer might be something you’d like to challenge yourself with!
What 3 words best describe you in this phase of your life? Grateful, Blessed, Growing
What do you love about this time of life?: I love that I’m old enough to not worry too much about what people think, but wise enough to always consider others' perspectives and put myself in their shoes. My husband and I are financially stable enough to do anything we want, and I’m still young and vibrant enough to pursue my own dreams and passions. It’s a time of balance, freedom, and self-discovery.
“The Sweet Spot: Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyways!”
