Security guard George pursuing law degree

By MAX KILIWA
FOR security officer George Isari, 47, it is never too late to study law.
In fact, he should be into his third year at the University of PNG law school this year but for financial problems he is facing. But he is not giving up yet.
“There are so many challenges and struggles both financially and physically but I had never gave up on them very easily. I manage them all with God’s grace.”
George is from Kabuni Village in Tupi, Ijivatrai district of Northern. He is the eldest in a family of four who spent most of their childhood in Western Highlands.
His mother Joyce was a high school teacher. His father Steve Isari worked with Telikom PNG.
George dropped out of Grade Six at the Tarangu Primary School in Mt Hagen. When his mother was transferred to the Lae Secondary School, the
family moved from Hagen to Lae and stayed there for two years. She was later posted to the Yaroas Bishop Leo Secondary in Wewak.
George continued with his education through the Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE). He knew that success would come only through hard work and commitment. He kept his head down until he got a FODE certificate in Wewak.
“During that time, there were many jobs but not enough qualified people. So I got my first job as an accounts officer with the Curtain Brothers in 1990.”
George was a keen sportsman too. He played soccer and athletic before he injured his knee and stopped playing.
“I still love sports and I am a big fan of rugby.”
Curtain Brothers posted him to the Misima and Kiunga mines. He worked there for two years before joining another company as a clerk.
In 1994, George used his work experience to study accounting at the University of PNG But he left because of the students’ unrest that year and financial difficulties.
George worked for a computers communication company for a year as a revenue officer.
He met his wife from Kerema there who had graduated at the University of Technology with an accounting degree.
They have three children. But the eldest daughter passed away. They now are left with a daughter aged 19 and a son aged 14.
George joined University of PNG security team and decided to study law at the same time. He considered himself lucky to be accepted by the UPNG to pursue the law degree.
This should be his third year but he withdrew after facing some problems. He continues to work as a security officer at the UPNG main campus and Trauma campus.
He hopes to complete his law degree later. He is not giving up yet.
“My advice to young people is to face challenges in life and not to give up easily. There is always hope in life.”

“ There are so many challenges and struggles both financially and physically. But I never give up on them very easily.”