BY MAEVERLYN KUTAI, PHD CANDIDATE IN WORLD ECONOMICS, CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF FINANCE AND ECONOMICS, CHINA
I was raised in the village by my parents who were both teachers, and my community. I started my formal education at a school my parents built back in our village. Growing up as a child, everything seemed fine, but when I entered secondary school, one of my closest relative told me “Oe sukulu boroi afetai ako dao go la university na ” (Even if you go to school, you will never reach university).
Those words could have defined what I believed was possible for me, but I kept going. Years later, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from USP Laucala. The village girl who was told she would never reach university has done it.
Later on, another opportunity took me further from the village to Renmin University of China, where I pursed my Master’s in Governance and Development Economics. During my studies, I began sharing some of my research related work on Facebook. Then cam another comment from a close relative, ” Yiahh ma any PhD research nma” ( That’s just a Master’s research, not even a PhD).
Again, I kept going and today, I am blessed with another opportunity where I am currently pursuing a PhD in World Economics in China. My journey has taught me that every person’s path is different. There will be people who believe in you, encourage you, and sometimes people close to you may not see what you see for yourself.
I have learned to keep moving forward anyways.
Facebook has a diverse audience, and that is one reason I chose to share positive messages. If something from my journey can encourage others to work hard, purse their dreams, and believe that they can achieve what may seem impossible, then sharing it is worthwhile.
People may have different perspectives but I have also learned that education is not only about earning certificates, degrees, or titles. It is about how we treat others and how we use what we have learned, and who we become along the way. A good education should make us be more understanding, more respectful, and more willing to lift others as we rise.
Pursuing this degree is more than a personal achievement for me. It would mean that somewhere along the way, a boundary was crossed. If I successfully complete this journey, I will become the first individual from my paternal tribe to earn a doctorate. And perhaps the next village girl or boy from my tribe will grow up knowing that reaching this level of education is possible because someone has already walked that road.
To anyone facing challenges on your own journey, don’t give up. Keep doing what you love and keep pursuing your dreams. Use every challenge as a stepping stone. Turn pain into something meaningful and let your journey become a source of encouragement to others.
You may be not be able to control what people say about you, but you can choose what you can become because of it. Keep going. The village girl who was once told she would never reach university is still going!
Tenkiu Tumas.
