Story by Lupain PASUL
My story is no different from other humble beginnings - like many other Papua New Guinean kids. I grew up in the Highlands of PNG. There is where frost falls during dry season. Rain falls as if cloud breaks open. You'd walk up hill, slide down slopes with bare feet. Pain is inevitable.
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| Lupain PASUL : Photo Supplied |
During dry season, frost burns your feet. And when sun rises on the east - it starts to burn your toes, that is the moment you'd really feel the pain. Try imagine you're only 8 or 10 years old kid. And you're walking 7-10km back and forth to school. From Monday to Friday. That was my usual day to day experience.
Mum cooks 3 to 5 kaukau (sweet potatoes) every morning. Three for breakfast. One for lunch. And one in the afternoon. It was the only food I knew.
Every pain can make human psychology very adaptable and powerful. As I progressed, greater challenge awaited. Help was rare and didn't turn out as I expected from anyone. What happened was, I was sent home for incomplete school fee payments. I knew I'd to do something. I didn't plan to go home nor give up either. Thus, I went twice knocking on my principal's office.
My enthusiasm and eager to study finally touched his heart. I can't forget what he said, "son, you just made me think of all the great things you'd do". And then he assigned me to clean a drain to cover for my outstanding school fee. I did that within a week.
To fast forward, I made it to UPNG. I had a room during my freshman year. Unfortunately, the other 4 years I've been a day-student. Sleepless nights most times in KD (Kuri Dorm Building). Eating Snax biscuits with tap water. Or even went straight to lectures or exams without any food.
I didn't blame my parents nor any of my relatives for that matter. But, what I was motivated and challenged at the time was the hardship I went through had shaped me. To think, I can do it or overcome them. And that was my undying and undeniable force I had. It kept me going, though.
Even, I felt the heat sun of Port Moresby. Walked back and forth from Morata to University. Picking mango along the road just to fill my empty stomach.
With all that I'd went through. It was worth the sacrifice and pain. And finally, the D-day had arrived, 18th April, 2018 - 🎓 graduated with Dual Major, Gender Studies and Social Work and minored in Strategic Management.
#Inspiration
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Next : Indirectly saving lives of young girls who would be professionals in the near future