By ORCHY REX
“A Degree after 10 years is still a degree.” Those were the words of 28-year-old Arnold Kara, who proudly walked out of the University of Papua New Guinea’s 70th graduation ceremony yesterday with a Bachelor Degree in Business Management, majoring in Strategic Management.
Arnold’s story is one of resilience, self-discipline and a strong belief that success is not determined by how fast you finish, but how committed you are to the journey.
Coming from Ialibu Secondary School in Southern Highlands Province and missing out on the national selection in 2017, Arnold never gave up.
Instead, he took the less travelled path — through UPNG’s Open College, and began a journey that would take him seven long years to complete.
“I came to Port Moresby in early 2018 and applied through the UPNG Open College. I was lucky enough to be selected for the Business Management Foundation Year through the External Mode,” Arnold recalled.
“That was my second chance. I didn’t know much about how Open College worked but I had a dream, and that dream was to study at UPNG.”
Despite the challenges, including limited contact hours with lecturers and having to study independently, Arnold remained focused.
“Sometimes I missed church on Sundays just to attend one-hour classes. During the week, I’d sit in the library alone, reading thick textbooks, summarizing and preparing myself,” he said stating “we were our own teachers.”
COVID-19 added more pressure when it disrupted his Diploma program in 2020, cutting short his second semester. But he stayed on course and completed 17 foundation and diploma courses.
In 2021, he was finally selected to continue as a full-time internal student in the School of Business and Public Policy.
“I had to double up on some courses because they weren’t offered at the Open Campus, and that extended my study period to 7 years. I kept going because I knew what I wanted,” Arnold said.
“People kept asking me when I would finish. Some said I was failing, but I never got a single failure or considered pass on my transcript.”
Through the trials and uncertainty, what kept him grounded was the support of his family and faith.
“I dedicate this Degree to my prayerful mothers. God heard their cries,” he said.
Arnold also paid tribute to his fellow students: “To my friends who accommodated me or stayed with me as SOMS (Somalian), those who shared biscuits and Coke with me during studies, thank you. This success is not only mine but ours.”
His message to those still struggling or feeling behind in life is clear: “Don’t let someone else’s timeline rush you. Ride on your own lane. A Degree after 10 years is still a degree.”