Mau owes success to parents

By BEVERLY PETER
MAX Mau, 24, feels indebted to his parents for supporting his education.
“Putting a smile on my mother’s face during my graduation on Friday was my greatest satisfaction,” Mau said.
“Though I feel proud to be the first person in my village to graduate from a university, it’s all through my parents’ sacrifices and hard work.”
Mau, from Bokukomana village in Rigo, Central, who recently graduated with a bachelor in accounting degree at the University of Technology, said his parents were the motivation that took him this far.
Mau, the last born in a family of five, started his education at Utuaika Primary School in Nenemakoman village in 2005.
In 2011, the school closed because most of the teachers didn’t go back after the Christmas break due to the remote location of the school.
He attended Boreboa Primary School at Waigani, Port Moresby, to do grades seven and eight.
Mau lived with his aunt at 6-Mile.
He did grade nine at the Gerehu Secondary School.
Mau said during his four years in primary and high school in Port Moresby, his parents travelled from their village to sell bananas in Port Moresby.
“They normally come and stay with us at 6-Mile for two weeks to sell bananas,” he said.
“My mother would wake up early in the morning, boil the bananas and took them to Gordon market or Unagi Oval to sell.”
Mau’s eldest sister, Alyn who is deaf, helped their parents.
“My other two siblings Ubura and Gamata also supported,” he said.
The money they earned from selling banana was used to pay for his school fees, uniforms and cater for other family needs.
“I understood the struggle, so I would walk most of the time from 6-Mile to 4-Mile and catch bus to Waigani and Gerehu to save K1,” Mau said.
“I also sell candies and snacks in school for my bus fare.”
He attended Sogeri National High School in 2015.
Mau always wanted to become a doctor since he was in grade five, unfortunately, he was not selected to take up science courses after streaming in grade 11.
“Attending boarding school was very tough for me,” he said.
“I was never given lunch money or any extra money for my personal needs but I appreciated what little they could give for my soap and clothes.
“I never ask for more in those day.
“My friends from school and church were very kind and helpful in my journey and I praise God for that.”
When he was doing his grade 11 in 2015, his mother was having problem with her backbone and was experiencing backache.
“She asked me: ‘When will you finish your education so that I will stop marketing bananas’.
“I replied confidently telling her that I will finish by 2020,” Mau said.
“The struggle and the pain my parents went through motivated me to do my best in school.
“I wasn’t a bright student.
“My parents’ sacrifices motivated me to invest my most available resources, my time and my study.
He believed that time management was very important.
“If you manage your time well, set your goals and work towards them, you will achieve,” he said.
Mau made time available for both his study and church activities as he attended Seventh-day Adventist Church.
In 2017, Mau was accepted to study accounting at UoT.
His parents continued to sell cooked banana while he was attending university.
In that same year, his elder brother bought a piece of land at Gereka which made it easier for his parents to come and stay and do their marketing.
“They usually sent me K50 in two months which I used to buy soap and basic needs,” Mau said.
“Though my biological family were in Port Moresby, my friends at school and church became my families and supported me when I was in need.”
He said in 2019, the family was faced with financial problems so he decided to withdraw as his elder brother was attending a nursing school in Rigo.
His church and school friends were very encouraging and kept telling him to go back and they would accommodate him in their room.
“My friends said I could only pay the compulsory fee and bunk up with them so I went,” he said.
“I am very thankful to my friends.
“Having a setback did not mean God was not at work.
“When God was in it, a lot of things could go wrong but could never end wrong.
“I want to encourage other students that if you have parents who are struggling selling things and sweating their guts to pay for your school fee, give your best in your study to make their hard work worthwhile.”
Mau’s favourite Bible verse that helped him through his journey was 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your burden upon the Lord as He cared for you.