For waking up very early every morning to provide me breakfast

For going to the store after a very long and tiring day every day to provide me dinner

For working overtime and foregoing your weekends to make sure I don’t miss a day at school.

For being my mentor and strength despite your limited education.

For the pride you had in me despite the fact that my future was unknown.

For believing in me that I will be the man that you dreamt of all those years ago.

For making me into becoming the person that you could not be.

For being my shepherd leading me to greener pasture.

I only wish you could be here on this joyous occasion when your dream becomes a reality

I wish I could hug you and say we did it.

This is for you Mama,

For your obedience in heeding God’s call to be with papa.

For the labour pain and discomfort I gave you coming into this world.

For braving sickness and pains in your body to keep my uniforms clean and dry

For looking out for me like a hen watching over her chick although you were struggling with your health.

For your dedication, loyalty and perseverance despite no formal education.

For deciding to become a table mama because my education is too important to just give up

For standing beside papa to ensure I have all I need to be successful in school.

On this momentous day, I wish I could look into those loving eyes and say thank you.

I wish I could repay you for all that you have done in my life.

On this day I miss you so much, Mama.

This is for you my wife;

For being my one true companion and the pillar that keeps me upright

For being my wise counsellor and voice of reason.

For being with me on this journey through ups and downs.

For being the reason for my success.

For ensuring that I make my parents proud.

For being selfless and understanding even when you are unwell.

For filling up my void during this lonely trial with love and tenderness.

This achievement is your achievement, this victory is your victory.

Without you I doubt if I would arrive at this destination.

Without you this would only be just a dream.

On this day you deserve as much praise and admiration as me.

This is for you my children;

For being the reason why I persevered to complete this journey

For reminding me every time I feel weary that I have to keep going for your sake

So that you can reach the stars one day;

So that you can carry yourself in life with your heads held high;

So that you can be inspired to achieve all that you aim to achieve.

The journey is not yet over, I am only taking you to the furthest I can go.

Hold this achievement in your hand and run your own race.

Run and run until you reach your purpose and destiny.

Make me, your mother, your ancestors, your nation and your God proud.

This day should herald the start of that pursuit.

One day just like me, I wish to see you achieve this feat.

This is for you my siblings, tribe and community;

I graduate now with this award as the first but not the last

I graduate as the first of many to come

I graduate as your elder brother and pride.

I graduate leaving footprints on the sand.

I graduate with a torch illuminating the darkness that is before us.

I graduate leaving behind a fire burning.

I graduate creating a story to inspire you and generations to come.

To God and Country this is for you;

Thank you for giving me a life, home and an identity.

Thank you for this breathe of life that has brought me this far.

Thank you for taking me to the top of another mountain in my life and showing me how far I have come and the journey that awaits me.

I came, I saw and now I have conquered one more mountain.

Today I graduate while knowing I am a son of God, my parents and Papua New Guinea.

Today I graduate as a brother, a husband, a father, a relative, a role model, a citizen and a patriot

Tomorrow, I will go out as a kingdom and nation builder chosen out of the many that were called.

To make a future that is better than what I inherited from my parents and forerunners.