"Thanks to my prof, I didn't give up"

by Vivien Yap

Shazneen Hasan knew from a very young age that she was different from most Singaporean children. 

A migrant worker, her father had moved from Bangladesh to Singapore to build ships as a labourer.

Witnessing her father’s journey shaped Shazneen’s own path.

“We were taught that history isn’t just a study of the past, but a call to action in the present,” she says.

This inspired her to speak up for those who may not have a voice.

Feeling for the struggles of migrant workers, Shazneen worked part-time as a Bengali court interpreter as an undergraduate. She speaks fluent Bengali, her mother tongue, and Hindi – and has basic knowledge of other South Asian languages like Urdu, Marathi and Sylheti. 

Throughout her four years in NTU, she also volunteered for many initiatives that aimed to help migrant workers.

When it was time to go for her internship, Shazneen wanted to try out social work, to help other communities of people in need. 

Learning to stay, even when it’s hard

Excited to make a difference, she joined a social service agency supporting the intellectually disabled.

But Shazneen quickly began to question her path. Her work didn’t pay as much as other internship roles, and she found it tough to meet the complex needs of her intellectually disabled beneficiaries, who often had sensory and mobility challenges.

“I struggled from day one,” she says. “I remember sitting on my chair, feeling like my head was going to explode just planning a day trip to the bird park. I had to consider matters we are blessed to usually not have to care about, such as whether the ground was even, what could trigger sensory overloads, diet restrictions and more.”

Thankfully, NTU lecturer Dr Joanne Chia stepped in.

As Shazneen’s internship supervisor, Dr Chia wasn’t required to visit her workplace, only to review reports. But one day, she turned up at the day activity centre where Shazneen worked. Not to assess, but to volunteer.

“I think she came to support me, even if she never said it out loud,” Shazneen says, her voice full of quiet gratitude. She had earlier confided in Dr Chia about her doubts over whether she was capable enough for social work.

At the modest centre, Dr Chia stood beside her – an unspoken gesture of solidarity.

She taught me that discomfort is not a detour, but rather a sign I am exactly where I need to be to grow.”

–  Shazneen

That message stuck. 

“It made me feel okay with my discomfort,” Shazneen reflects. “I realised that struggling doesn’t mean that I’m flawed or incapable – it shows that I care.”

That moment gave her the strength to reframe her mindset and stay the course in social work.

“What Dr Chia said is something I still hold close today.”

Giving migrant workers a voice

Shazneen now works full-time as a caseworker at the Migrant Workers’ Centre, helping migrant workers – many of whom don’t speak English – navigate issues in their daily lives.

She assists migrant workers with salary disputes, workplace injury issues and more. 

“I thank my father for his struggles,” she says. “If not for them, I wouldn’t be able to help others through theirs.”

Paying it forward through stories

Outside of work, Shazneen keeps her love for stories alive. She’s starting a podcast with three classmates to spotlight stories from small South Asian communities in Singapore – stories that echo her own beginnings.

“Please don’t make this a sad, woke story,” Shazneen says, half-joking, half-serious.

What she wants people to know is this: she feels lucky. Lucky to have studied History at NTU. Lucky to have met amazing friends and professors who cared.

“I’m only here because I stand on their shoulders,” she says.