BY ALEX DADAMU
BELIEVE in yourself so much that it’s hard to give up on your dreams and be brave enough to ask for help.
This was Millicent Barty’s advice to youths in the country in an interview with Solomon Women’s Newspaper.
Ms. Barty’s statement comes just hours after the Obama Foundation officially announced at 2 am, early morning, September 8th that she is among its fourth cohort of Obama Scholars who join two groups of 12 emerging leaders from around the world to study at Columbia University and the University of Chicago, respectively, for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Ms. Barty now becomes the first Solomon Islander to receive this scholarship and the second in the Pacific (first was PNG) since the program started in 2018. For this year, she is the only recipient in the Oceania region.
“From our small corner in this world, opportunities are often difficult to come by and particularly, the opportunity to be part of a prestigious program like the Obama Scholars and gain academic and professional experience in the largest and most influential country in the world, I feel incredibly humbled and honored to be selected.
“I hope being the first Obama Scholar in our country opens the door and encourages many more from our nation and region to apply in the future,” Millicent said.
She expressed that her achievements take a village to shape her path and first and foremost, she would like to thank God.
“I would like to thank the Obama Foundation and Columbia University for selecting me.
“I also want to thank the people who make up my village; from my family (Lilisiana & Maru’u tribe of Malaita, Santa Ana of Makira and Ngalitavethi of North East Guadalcanal); close friends and acquaintances; my 3 amazing referees for supporting my application; the US Consular for helping me with visa arrangements; my mentor Chris Elphick who has been providing me with guidance,” Millicent expressed.
She further added that she wants to thank the country as a whole for the experience provided over the years working with beneficiaries and stakeholders from different sectors.
She said these experiences have equipped her with greater understanding, character-building experiences, and lessons to shape and continue informing and improving her work.
Meanwhile, she urged both young boys and girls who want to follow in her footsteps in the future is to believe in themselves so much that it is hard to give up on their dreams.
“Life will present us with many obstacles and challenges and sometimes we may feel defeated by our failures, discouraged from the failures of the system and others, etc… But never forget to be strong enough to stand alone, be smart enough to know when you need help, and be brave enough to ask for it! These three principles coupled with a strong belief in myself and a vision for the kind of community I’d like to live in, have helped me tremendously in my journey,” Millicent shared.
Ms. Barty is one of 24 rising leaders selected to join the 12-member cohort for Columbia University in New York. At Columbia University, the Obama Scholars will complete a nine-month residency with Columbia World Projects, an initiative that mobilizes the university’s faculty and researchers to work with governments, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and communities to create tangible solutions to real-world issues.
This cohort will also participate in seminars, personal and professional development workshops, audited coursework, and other programming designed in consultation with the Foundation.
