NEVER GIVE UP

 

Constable Timbi (centre) with two other Kuli tribemens, Glen John (left) and Daniel Tip (right) who passed out together on March 29 2018.

 

First to congratulate Probationary Constable Francis Timbi straight after the pass out parade at Bomana Police College was a relative, Jonathan Wii.

Failed twice in school, but succeeded through sheer determination

By HENZY YAKHAM

One meaning of the English language word “determine” is to set the limit and/or a definite idea, plan or vision and achieving it.

From it comes “determination”, and is defined as a quality of mind which reaches definite conclusion, decision of character and resoluteness.

It is a commonly used word on the lips of many in learning institutions, sports, business and many other aspects of life, but in real life situation not everyone lives to literally practice it.

Determination is serious a very business for those who chose to succeed in life fully committing themselves foregoing other things to achieve their goals and objectives - no matter what obstacles and setbacks that may come in the way.

In 2011, a teenage boy “failed” at grade 10 in a public high school and again in 2015 the youngster was a grade 12 “dropped out” from a private school in the Anglimp district of the then newly created Jiwaka province.

Normally, failing twice from two exceptionally well managed educational institutions would discourage someone to think/say maybe I am not meant for this and quits choosing something else to do in life.

But, this is quite an extraordinary and very positive story that should be a shining example for thousands of children and students nationwide to learn from to become somebody from nobody.

Francis Timbi is the young man in this story who shut out all odds and became very determined person to achieve his lifetime dream - to be the defender of the rule of law.

Young Francis hails from Eltai Wai village in Anglimp area of Jiwaka province, formerly part of Western Highlands province.

From the main Kuli tribe, he belongs to the smaller tribe called the Kulimbe and is from a family of six girls and two boys, him and a brother.

His early years of schooling started at Kuli Holy Rosary Catholic agency primary school where he completed grade 8 in 2009.

In the following year (2010), young Francis continued his upper high school learning at Anglimp high school (now secondary) doing grade 9 and 10 in 2011.

His first biggest was 2011, when like thousands of other grade 10 school leavers PNG-wide each year, Francis was unable to continue in grade 11 and 12 secondary education because of low marks.

That did not deter him to leave and do something else, but valuing the importance of good education and out of determination, this young man spent whole of 2012 and 2013 in the village.

Back in the village, he literally toiled the land, growing vegetables and other garden produce, selling them in local markets and saving money.

During the two years, Francis recalls of working very hard to invest the money from his market sales to pay his Grade 11 and 12 tuition fees.

“I kept reminding myself that I must return to the education system to upgrade my grades and pass the grade 12 level of schooling,” he notes when telling his own story.

Sure enough come early 2014, Francis fronted up to enroll a private school, Papua New Guinea Education Development Services secondary school at Avi Block within the Anglimp district paying K2,500.00 to do grade 11 studies and similar amount for grade 12 studies the following year.

He treasures the generosity of school’s director, John Weati Rumints for giving him another opportunity to reach grade 12 education level in 2015.

But, the ever determined Francis Timbi was faced with yet devastating setback as in 2011, when his grade 12 results couldn’t earn him a place for continued education.

“That made me even more determined so I enrolled at the College of open Campus in Mount Hagen to upgrade my grade my grade 12 marks, which I successfully did,” he tells of his success with a big smile.

During 2016, to help meet the cost of the upgrading, he got a security job looking after PNG Power limited properties in Banz earning K250.00.

In the same year (2016), there were media advertisements of police recruitment which he applied and there came what young Francis describes as “I believe the biggest breakthrough of my life”.

He confidently went through the police recruitment and screening processes of interview, entry test, short listed and eventually accepted to undertake basic police training at Bomana Police College outside Port Moresby.

During the whole of 2017, due to the low government cash flow situation, airline tickets could not be sent to him and other recruits so travel as deferred to 2018.

In March of 2018, with others the policeman in waiting flew to Port Moresby and in June of the same year with over 200 other recruits Francis commenced basic training in many aspect of police work including report writing, public speaking, communication, drill, traditions of RPNGC, shooting range skills fire arm handling  etc.

On March 29 2019, Francis who failed twice, in grade 10 and grade 12, but through sheer determination to succeed, was among 244 policemen and women passed out from Bomana Police College.

Today, probationary police constable 17233 Francis Timbi is obviously satisfied and proud of his success through personal determination, but he also attributes this to immediate family, Kuli tribe, friends, public and private learning centres he went through and many others.

As well, probationary constable Timing pays special attention to the commandant of Bomana police training college, Peter Philip.

Mr Timbi’s story of success through determination was requested to be told by way of this article by his relative, Jonathan Wii not to promote Francis, but for students who drop out at grades 10 and 12 from public school system to continue pursuing their dreams via private educational institutions.

Mr Will notes that Francis Timbi’s success story of his fellow Kuli tribesman doing well is an encouragingly positive narrative that can inspire thousands of other young people PNG-wide not to give up easily, but strive to find other ways to beat the odds and be a good and proud citizens.

“Imagine the positive results this story can generate for our country if many young people out there who, after reading this story say, yes if he can do it I can too,” he said.

Indeed, and if you are someone like Constable Francis Timbi or anyone you know who have a similar story to share contact henzyhyakham@gmail.com