A recent Biology graduate from the University of Papua New Guinea, Ms. Karen Watnawi from the East Sepik Province, was born and raised on Misima Island in the Samarai Murua District of Milne Bay Province; a place that she now calls home. Like many who have grown up in adopted towns and provinces where work has led their parents to settle, Ms. Watnawi was born in 1999 at the Misima District Hospital on the island when her dad was first serving as a police officer on the island. “We moved to Alotau town where I started school in Alotau Elementary then transferred back to Misima Island where I did grades four to eight at Bwagaoia Primary School from 2010 - 2014.” “I completed grades nine and ten at the former Misima High School now Misima Secondary School then got selected to the Sacred Heart Secondary – Hagita to do grades 11 and 12.” Ms. Watnawi got accepted to UPNG to do Science Foundation in 2019 then streamed into Biological Sciences in second year. “This was not an easy journey, my parents separated when I was just starting primary school. It was hard, but I thank God that I figured it out earlier in life that my happiness was in my own hands.” “If I wanted to be happy in the future I had to work hard in school. So, I shut out all the chaos that was going on around me and in my family and focused on school.” “My parents still supported me, my dad provided everything I needed, and my mom always prayed for me. Starting at UPNG was a struggle because of the tuition fees but we are so blessed, not just me but every student and their parents in Samarai Murua District who are or were under the sponsorship program of our local MP Isi Henry Leonard.” She added that it was a privilege to be sponsored through the Samarai Murua District School Fee program for the four years of studies at the university as well as paying for the graduation and gown fees. “My encouragement to all the children out there who are experiencing what it is like to come from a broken home, that we should not let our parents’ problems drag us down but instead rise above it and challenge yourself to be better and remember that only you can make yourself happy.” Meantime, MP Leonard was delighted to attend the UPNG graduation for the Science students recently. “I want to create a legacy for my people and that is why we at Samarai Murua are one of the very few districts in the country that continues to support our students pay their full school fees at tertiary level.” MP Leonard said that not many parents in rural areas were able to fully pay and support their children’s education, so he had taken it upon himself that while in office as the mandated leader of Samarai Murua District, he would ensure education was given priority through such school fee programs. “This program lifts the burden off the parents and guardians who are simple village men and women, many of whom are only fisherman and gardeners. They are appreciative that the MP’s office can support the school fees for their children attending universities and colleges across the country,” Mr Leonard said. Five students from Samarai Murua District have graduated from UPNG this year, and they are Karen Watnawi (SNPS), Marie Louise Gham (SHSS), Janet Serah Omuru (SHSS), Lynne Kaur (SNPS) and Pais Ronny (SHSS).