By Solomon Aplas Motivation
"Growing up in a home of single parent family, life wasn't easy for mum and big sister to support me through my education journey.". Benno was 4 year old when his father deserted his mother and got married to another woman.
During those years, life wasn't easy for his mum to raise 6 kids on her own as a single parent but she never gave up.
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| Photo: Benno appreciating his sister who was there to witness his Graduation on behalf of his mother. |
"She would always pray for God's wisdom to raise us up. When I started my first grade life become so difficult for mum to pay all our school fees. She would told us, the only way to raise fund for our fee is to help her toil the land to plant cabbage and she would sell them at Wewak town market to raise funds for our fee.
This is the story of Benno Wasika. Benno is from Hambuke village, Yangoru Saussia Electorate in East Sepik Province.
"Every afternoon, right after school, I would spend 3 hours with my mother to help her work in the farm and in the night I used to do my studies."
After grade 8 examination at Hambuke Primary School, Benno was selected to do Grade 9 at Kubalia High school( now secondary). The year was 2011
"However, in 2012 life become more difficult as my elder brother got selected to Brandi secondary to do his Grade Eleven that forced me to become a day student so that I can help mum farm the land to support both of us"
After Grade 10, Benno got selected to Brandi to do his Grade 11 and 12 and graduated in 2015.
"After grade 12, I did not secure any spaces in tertiary institutions. I went back home and feels like everything comes to an end for me but mama and big sister never gave up on me. They supported me to upgrade my marks at DWU Matriculation Center at Kaindi. After a year, I reapplied as a Non-School leaver and was successful in securing a space at the University of Goroka in 2017."
After 4 years of studies, Benno graduated with Bachelor of Education in Secondary education on 29 June 2021 amongst 700+ graduands from the University of Goroka.
"What really motivated me to take up this programme is to help instill quality education to our young papua New Guineans through quality education. This achievement wouldn't be possible without the God Almighty as well as my beautiful hardworking mum who is a devoted Christian and the rest of my family."
My favourite bible verse is philippians 4: 13 I can do all this through christ who strengthen me.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE?
"My advice to the young people is that, when life gives you hardship, do not give up. I never secured any spaces in tertiary institutions but I never gave up until my dream to be a secondary school teacher comes into reality. Always embraces what little resources you have and embrace God and you will succeed in what you do in life."