Like his fellow graduates, Thursday, April 25th 2024 was an emotional moment for former Student Representative Council (SRC) President, Luther Kising as he shook hands with the Pro Chancellor, knowing well that he was now a certified student of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). Kising who hails from Butibam village in Lae, Morobe Province, stated that he had a dream to become SRC President in UPNG when he was selected from Busu Secondary School in 2020. “When I came to UPNG, I strove to live by the rules and the policies of the school, and to fulfil necessary requirements.” “By the time I was in my third year in 2022, I decided to run for the position of president.” Kising admits that his time as SRC president was challenging as the country was experiencing national issues, most notably the national uproar against Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko over offensive commentary and confusion over the signing of a defence military pact with the United States in Port Moresby, which resulted in student protests against the government and also forcing the university to reschedule its semester 1 exams. “While I was president, the student body was affected by national issues but my concern was to make sure the students successfully completed the academic year.” “It was a matter of prioritizing academics, which was the advice I received while consulting the school’s administration; to ensure that students completed their studies instead of focusing on matters beyond our control.” Additionally, he spoke about critical lessons he learned during his time in leadership emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and his concerns when it came to representing UPNG during times of national matters. “When you are in a position of leadership, representing the elites of the country, the professionals and over 10, 000 students, it is crucial to control your emotions.” “Your words must not be affected by how you feel in the moment and what you say must always maintain the dignity of the university.” He insisted that the younger generation pursue their dreams despite obstacles. “Do not give up, if you were not fortunate enough to get an education – it is not the end.” “Continue to pursue and believe in your dreams, be patient – you will still achieve something in life.” When asked about his future ambitions, he replied that after learning how to oversee public matters on campus, he would still like to pursue a career in leadership, if God wills and if the people agree. On a final note, he encouraged the people of Morobe Province to maintain their support towards youths who are still studying and those who have only started in their careers as well.