WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

 

SHE FINISHED THE RACE BY GOD’S GRACE

 

By Paul MINGA

 

Many PNG school leavers give up hope easily after not securing a place or scholarship for further studies after grade ten or twelve education.

But for those who give up hope easily are the lazy ones who do not look beyond their horizon that education was not meant for the lazy and complacent ones.

One woman who has shown that even a grade ten drop-out can make it to university through perseverance, hard work and the ‘never say die’ attitude.

She is mother of three and a grandmother, Henny Alo Tunkia aged 51, from Yaibos village, Wapenamanda District of Enga Province.

Henny started school in 1978 doing grade one at Yaibos Lutheran Community School and completed grade 6 in 1983. She passed her grade 6 exam and went on - attending St Paul's Lutheran High School in Wapenamanda, which now a secondary school doing grade 7-10 from 1984-87.

Henny regarding her education journey. She was another above average student scoring good marks for her external assessments but with her poor gradings from her final external exams she did not receive an offer for a further study after year 10.

She felt devastated after not receiving an offer for a further study but believed that was not the end of her life journey. Henny believed in herself that there are millions chances to turn a person from nobody to somebody.

She also said, "You don't need to be a prominent figure in a society or a professional person or as jack of all trades to do, pursue or venture into something. But at times you can do something using your own natural talent or instincts."

She brushed aside the word "failure" used most times in her community referring to students who didn't get any offer after grades 10 or 12. 

“Many students who went through a same situation as myself feel devalued or demoralized easily upon hearing the word ‘failure’ simply give up education in either getting married or getting themselves involved in doing other things thinking that they failed and can't do much anything further. But this is the mentality of unproductive and lazy person.

The Sir John Guise indoor stadium packed for the graduation ceremony.

“We only blame the system but do not realize that our real potential is yet to be unlocked if we think outside the box," the daughter of a pioneer prison officer said.

"As a daughter of a first educated public servant from our village l wanted to do something worthwhile to maintain my family name and that is to continue my education and find a decent job." 

She grabbed a first job opportunity where she passed the entry test and interview for police reservist recruitment exercise in her home province at the age of 17.

The recent UPNG graduate in Human Resource Management still remembers attending 3 weeks training conducted by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

Henny took up her first job as police reservist or support staff after the training in performing general police duties and at the same time assisting the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) with administrative tasks.

While on her first job - receiving a monthly allowance of K150, Henny enrolled herself for a short course in secretarial studies which she completed within 6 months.

This became an added advantage - enabling her to do job training with the Department of Justice and Attorney General Magisterial Services in an effort to gain her job experience.

While still on her job training, Henny got married in 1989. The good news is she already had a permanent job with the Police Department. Her first child was born in 1990 with the second in 1992. 

Having two kids to take care was much of a burden and Henny left her job to free up herself so she can become a full-time housewife. 

As a reward for her faithfulness in bringing up the two children and sacrificing her job for the sake of the family, her supportive husband sponsored her to take up Pre-Employment Technical Training (PETT) basic secretarial course at Goroka Technical College for a year in 1996.

Higher Education Minister Don Polye escorted to the graduation arena.

In grabbing such a rare opportunity, Henny said she committed all her time and effort into her studies where she successfully completed the course and graduated after a year. 

This time she was employed by a locally owned retail and wholesale company as Personal Secretary to the Manager in 1997 and at the same time worked as Purchasing Officer for the same company.

Henny said she learned from her boss so many good things regarding good work ethics and being taught on how to write job application letters, draft general letters, submitting reports on time and getting to know qualities and fruits of a consistent employee.

She learnt many job skills that were seen as vital and helpful for her future job prospect. But she worked for a short while and left to work as secretary for another firm.

Henny then found a new job as Admin Clerk with Coca Cola for 3 years from1999 - 2002 until she tendered her resignation as her family had to move after her husband's job transfer to his home province in East Sepik.

She concentrated less on earthly things as she decided to commit her time and resources to do spiritual and advocacy work so she can help people faced with difficulties and other problems so they can find purpose, hope and meaning in life and live a life that would be as pleasing to God. 

She was an advocate for almost 6 years. Henny committed more of her time doing spiritual work on bible study, fellowship, meditation and comforting or praying for the sick. 

Her advocacy and spiritual work at times led her into doing hospital visitation in the children's or surgical ward in her praying for those in complications and needed healing, deliverance and restoration.

Having a heart and passion to help those in need, Henny also took upon herself into doing counselling for broken marriages and also provided love, care and counselling to youths who got involved in illegal and eyesore activities as taking drugs, producing homebrew and involving in rascal activities.

The commitment and sacrifice made by Henny of her humanity work was rewarded by God in her being offered a job as Keyboard Operator Gr 6 by the same organization that employs her husband.

Some of Henny's colleagues.

Henny still continued her humanity work as another Good Samaritan - providing food and accommodation to the sick and needy who at times were flown in by chopper to Boram Hospital from remote places like Telefomin, Okisai and Frieda River.

Henny also went to the extent to accommodate the unfortunate young people from the Min areas to lodge so they can continue their education in primary, secondary or private institutions in Wewak town.

Her family were so kind and compassionate in providing accommodation to six male and two female from the Min area. Henny also helped or supported many street preachers with food and money to continue their good work in preaching the gospel to believers and unbelievers.

Henny still set sights in aiming for something higher academically. It was no surprise when Works Department Director for Training and Human Development recommended her to take up Undergraduate Bachelor Degree program at UPNG.

Henny's report and recommendation was considered successful, the grade 10 dropout who never imagined attending university at last enrolled as student for Bachelor in Business Management majoring in HRM studies for two years which she successfully completed and received her degree in the recent UPNG graduation on April 24, 2023.

She said this is a result of self-belief, determination and perseverance of a person having "never say die" attitude. Henny said she wouldn't have come this far in achieving a degree but it was through God's help and kind understanding, support, encouragement and continuous assistance by her husband she came this far.

Henny said, "Nothing comes easy for a successful person. "You have to do something to achieve something". As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain. It was like a big menu served on a golden plate."

Her graduation gown said it all: “God’s Grace Finish The Race.”