Don’t give up, have faith, says Monique

By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO
IT IS that time again when examination results and selection lists are out and hopeful applicants look out for their names.
It is a time when some homes are filled with joy and when Facebook newsfeeds offer congratulatory posts for family members or friends accepted to attend tertiary institutions.
But there are students who keep scrolling down and up again for the hundredth time to check if it is true that their names are not on the lengthy selection lists.
Monique Koal was one of the students who couldn’t find her name on the selection lists after she completed her Grade 12 at St Joseph’s International School in 2015.
But she came home yesterday morning with a Diploma in Executive Secretaryship from the Seri Stamford College in Malaysia.
Koal, 23, of mixed parentage Central, ENB and East Sepik was one of the 24 students from Central who won a scholarship initiated by former Central Governor, Kila Haoda.
The recipients of the scholarship took up diploma programmes in executive secretaryship, corporate administration and hospitality management at Seri Stamford College in Malaysia.
They left for studies in March 2017 and came back on Sunday, Dec 22.
Koal came home after not just graduating with a diploma in executive secretaryship but also the recipient of the highest achievement award, together with another student from the team, Colin Moere.
It was an experience that made her realise that everything is possible and that hard work pays off.

“ To others that didn’t make it to any institution, don’t give up. There’s a lot of opportunities at the tip of our fingers, through the internet and elsewhere. Look harder, have faith and always believe in yourself.”

She admitted that she was disappointed at first when she was not accepted into one of the tertiary institutions in the country but with her family’s encouragement and support she overcame that.
“To others that didn’t make it to any institution, don’t give up. There’s a lot of opportunities at the tip of our fingers, through the internet and elsewhere. Look harder, have faith and always believe in yourself,” said Koal.
Koal thanked Haoda and his team for the scholarship that gave her and her colleagues the opportunity to experience a new culture, to meet new people and for helping them to further their education.
She also thanked her colleagues b in Malaysia for being by her side for the last two years, and her family for their support and encouragement.
Koal said that she now looked forward to further studies either within the country or overseas if another opportunities arose.