Rommy Sai, from Kopugara Tunuku Village in the remote part of Okapa District, Eastern Highlands Province, has vowed to use his achievement to serve his people.
Sai said, “I come from one of the most remote parts of the country, where there are no schools or hospitals, and we walk four to five hours to reach the main highway.
These have been major challenges throughout my years of study.
“I don’t want others to go through the same struggles, so I remained committed to my studies to make a difference in my community,” Mr. Sai said.
He also dedicated his achievement to his late father.
“I was in Grade 11 when he passed away. His death left me with great pain and heartache,” he said.
Mr. Sai graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences during the university’s 71st graduation ceremony a fortnight ago.
He pointed out that his village is in a rural setting where families rely solely on coffee for income.
“We could not easily access road services. My family used to carry coffee bags for four to five hours just to reach the main highway,” he said.
“But they sacrificed so much to support me, and today I have achieved this milestone.”
Sai said he wanted to use his education to positively impact his community.
“I don’t want my people to continue facing these struggles. That is why I worked hard to earn my degree so I can serve my community and create positive change,” he said.
He explained that he hopes to help bring basic services back to his village.
“If I am in a good position or serving in a government agency, I can prepare proposals to help my people by bringing back hospitals and schools,” he said.
“We also have a big river running through our area, so I can assist in building footbridges and other important infrastructure.”
He added that there are no schools in his community and that he hopes to seek funding from both the national and provincial governments to establish primary and secondary schools for the thousands of people living in the area.
Sai said he began his education at Pagetasa Elementary School before entering the University of Papua New Guinea in 2019 as a first-year external student.
“Despite the challenges, and after losing my father’s support, I did my best to survive,” he said.
“I faced many challenges, especially financial difficulties, but I managed to overcome them.”
He said that the outcome of his achievement would ultimately benefit his community.