Security guard Mathew still wants to be a teacher

By LORRAINE JIMAL
BEING a security guard is not about just opening and closing gates, but also treating people with kindness and respect.
Mathew Ero makes sure to greet people passing through the gate with a smile.
“I must show respect and talk nicely to people. Not greeting and talking to them is rude. Public relation is important to me. I have to be nice to people so they can feel free and safe.”
Mathew still wants to pursue his dream of becoming a primary school teacher.
“Because education is a foundation of human resources, and the first stage of human development, I want to educate children who are the future of this country.”
That dream went out of the window when his father from Manus passed away when he was in Grade 10 at the Port Moresby Grammar School.
He was forced to return home to Gulf be with his mother and five younger siblings. His mother could not pay his school fees. She could only manage to look after her children at her village in Gulf.
Mathew later decided to attend a vocational school in Badili.
“I had no other choice because my mother was unemployed. I had to find some means to help my family.”
He took up technical and electronics courses before working as an electrician with a construction company.
He worked for three other companies before joining a company as an electrician in 2016. Unfortunately, he was sacked for chewing betel-nut.
“That is how strict the company is. There is no place to play around with the rules (which) must be followed at all times.”
He took up the job as a guard with a security company.
His dream of becoming a teacher remains. So on top of his security work, he enrolled in the flexible open distance education.
“I do my school work at night and work during the day. It is okay for me. I don’t get tired because I have to work to feed my family and pay my school fees.”
Mathew was born on June 6, 1989. He started his schooling at the Harona Primary School in 2000 where he reached Grade Six. He attended the Ihu High School before joining Pom in 2002.
Mathew is married to Kerema girl Linda Opa. They have three children who are now attending the Ted Diro Primary School.
He has been with the security company for four months now.
Things are slowly but surely working out for him. He uses the money he earns to pay for his school fees, bus fares and meals at school.
He has grown to like being a security guard because it requires one to be disciplined.
His advice to young people is to work hard to achieve what they want and never to give up.
“Use the resources and skills you can get. There are so many ways to achieve what you want to be. Don’t engage too much in relationships at a young age. Focus on your future. Be someone who is willing and eager to learn and keep looking for any opportunity then grab it with both hands.”
Mathew is determined to achieve his dream of teaching. He knows that nothing is impossible if one is determined, committed and diligent.

“ Because education is a foundation of human resources, and the first stage of human development, I want to educate children who are the future of this country.”