Sacrifice pays off for Gabriel

By PATRICIA KEAMO
GABRIEL Gamenu left his job with a company in 2015 to pursue a diploma and degree in accounting.
He knew he would have to forego a regular source of income but he was prepared to make the sacrifice to expand his knowledge and command in the field he aimed to pursue a career in.
When he graduated last month, topping his class with a Grade Point Average of 4.0, he knew the sacrifice had been worth it.
“When I saw the (final year) results I had teary eyes as I recalled the four years I had sacrificed to get my degree.”
The icing on the cake for Gabriel is a job offer from K & C Chartered Accountants where he will start on Jan 1.
Gabriel is from Imuagoro village in Rigo, Central. He comes from a family of six. Parents Laka Kila and Garo Gamenu are both retired public servants now engaged in Seventh Day Adventist church mission work at Saroakeina village also in Rigo.
Gabriel completed his lower secondary school education in 2000 at the Ianu Provincial High School in Abau, Central.
In 2002, he completed Grade 12 at the Kwikila Secondary School in Rigo. With the intent to pursue further studies, he upgraded his Grade 12 marks at the UPNG Open College Adult Matriculation in 2003.
From 2004 to 2006, Gabriel had various jobs. In 2007, he was employed by Digicel PNG Limited. He started in Customer Care before moving to Accounts in 2009.
“That’s where my passion for accounting began.”
From 2012 to 2015, he was employed as an assistant accountant at another company. He resigned in October 2015 to pursue studies.
In 2016 and 2017, Gabriel pursued a Diploma in Accounting course at the Port Moresby Business College.
He was accepted at UPNG under an affiliation programme to study for his degree in 2018 and 2019.
Gabriel thanks God for giving him the energy and drive to pursue his education goals, and his parents for their spiritual guidance and prayers.
“Being raised by Seventh Day Adventist church parents helped me develop and learn important life virtues based on Christian values and principles at an early age.

“ When I saw the (final year) results I had teary eyes as I recalled the four years I had sacrificed to get my degree.”

“I am a (disciplined) individual with strict adherence to a study roster at home and school. When everything is planned well, there is no excuse for failure.”
He plans to complete his certification with the Certified Practicing Accountants PNG, and register with the Accountants Board of PNG and other professional agencies here and abroad.
Gabriel aims to be involved in management roles focused on reporting and decision-making.
His advice to accounting students or anyone aiming to be an accountant is to follow his three P principles: Purpose, Passion and Professionalism.
“Know the reasons why you’re doing something – a clear understanding of what you want to do and it must be goal-oriented.
“Know what you love doing and how best you can do it and maintain a sense of personal and corporate responsibility whether in school or at work.
“Be optimistic and value your studies and work. This is reflected in your dressing, presentation and communication skills.”
Yes, those four years of sacrifice had been worth it for Gabriel.