BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
BEEN Fatherless due to her father’s passing away at the age of 13 is what inspired Samantha Houpara not to give up on her educational aspirations.
24-Year old Houpara recently graduated from the University of South Pacific, Laukala Campus and now working in the Human resources Department of Solomon Water.
Ms. Houpara attended Tawaimare Primary School, in West Are’are, Malaita Province, from Grade 1 to 6. She was then selected to do her form 1 at the Goldie College in the Western Province which she did only Form 1 and later completed her forms 2-3 again at Tawaimare High school.
Following her successful Form 3 examination results, Houpara went on to do her fourth, fifth, and sixth forms at Su’u National Secondary School in Malaita Province before doing her Form seven at King George the sixth National Secondary School.
“After I doing my form 7, I did rest a year due to lack of funds go further in my tertiary education. However, I Luckily did manage to secure a scholarship a year later and I do my one-year upgrade at USP Solomon Islands campus.
“The very thing that pushes me forward not to give up on my education is my background. I’m just a village girl and fatherless at the age of 13, that is my greatest inspiration to never give up on my education,’’ she said.
Since she lost her father, Samantha took every challenge and criticism she faced in order to motivate her.
“I always look at the positive side of things especially when I faced criticism and challenges. That is how I motivate myself. The greater the challenge the more I get motivated to continue with my education and achieved my dreams.
“I always get advice from my mother, youth leaders, church leaders such as pastors, my teachers, tutors, uncles and aunties, and even my friends.
“My education is my priority besides sports and making friends. This is how I committed to my education. I have faced a lot of criticism and challenges but I never back down to give up on my education and dreams,’’ She said.
Samantha graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce, major in economics and Human Resources Management and Employment Relations at the USP Laucala Campus.
