FORM six female student, Betty Bako has last year sat her Pacific Senior Secondary Certificate (PSSC) examination formalities at Honiara High School in Honiara.
The process of sitting the examinations can be felt deep in her heart as a student who had dreams of succeeding in her journey in the education system of the country. To come that far in the secondary level of education has not been always easy but sacrifices has to be made despite undergoing numerous challenges in life.
“To be a sixth form student in Honiara and to be living away from my parents in the rural community in Malaita province is tough journey for me,” she told Solomon Women.
The 23-year-old expressed her delight to have reached form six level in the secondary education.
“To have reached this far in the secondary level of education is a great blessing for me. Now am looking forward to achieve my dream to pass my PSSC examinations so that I will be able to continue on with my form seven of studies.
“As an female student, I have big dreams and I want to achieve my future long-term plans.
“This year was very tough for me. I tried very hard to focus on my examination and had put all my efforts in my preparations. I knew that in order to receive a positive outcome I had to focus on my studies,” she added.
Betty has overcome some tough challenges as a student this year, from being away form her parents and to withstand the experience of high cost of living in Honiara.
“Firstly being away from my parents was very tough throughout the year. I had to rely on my close relatives for financial support in terms of bus fare and school special contributions.
“Sometimes I wish that I could be like other students whose parents have lived in Honiara so that things could be much easier for me. But I thanked my parents for their support through their prayers and words of encouragements, which kept me going despite, faced with challenges.
“Through such experience it has moulded me to deeply appreciate how to understand the basics of life and to push extra harder to achieve my future goals and aspirations,” she said.
She encouraged other students to set their goals right and to be able to see what they have done and what they are capable of doing because to see such results will give confidence and assurance to achieve higher goals in education and life.
“Students should rightly choose where they want to end up after they complete their secondary level of education and what they want to achieve. Setting the right goals should give us the hope to achieve our long-term visions. Because if we know what to achieve then we will know what to concentrate on and improve on in our life and education,” she said.
