Twenty-year-old Lawrence Ri’omola, an Agriculture student at Don Bosco Tetere Vocational School, Guadalcanal Plains has overcome immense challenges to achieve a major milestone in his education journey this year.
Ri’omola, who comes from West Kwaio in Malaita Province, is the fifth-born in his family. He lost his father when he was very young, a tragedy that left his family struggling financially and placed heavy pressure on his schooling.
“Financial constraint is my biggest problem,” he said. “Without a father, I often felt hopeless about completing my education and finding a job one day.”
Despite these hardships, Ri’omola found support from the Sisters of Charity in Buma, who assisted with his school fees, as well as his elder brother, who helped cover transportation and other school expenses. Their support, he said, is the reason he has come this far.
“I give my big thanks to the Sisters of Charity for helping me with school fees and other needs,” Ri’omola expressed.
“I want to extend my gratitude because they made it possible for me to receive this certificate.”
Ri’omola has spent nearly a year studying agriculture, learning new skills and developing the discipline required to succeed.
He admitted that hard work has been one of his biggest challenges, but also one of his greatest strengths during his school journey.
His future ambitions are clear: he plans to continue his studies to become either an agriculture teacher or an agriculture officer.
He believes his certificate is a vital step toward achieving that dream.
“This certificate is very important because it will help me apply for jobs in the future,” he said.
“Receiving this award is a great honour. As a young person, it inspires me not to give up.”
Ri’omola plans to continue at Don Bosco Tetere, enrolling in the Certificate in Livestock program in 2026 and the Certificate in Agri-Business in 2027.
Completing these three certificates over three years, he said, is a sacrifice he is willing to make for a better future.
“When I received this certificate, I felt very happy because it is a milestone for me. It gives me hope and passion to continue my education,” he said.
“Imagine—a Form Three school leaver now receiving such an award. I never expected this. It is truly a blessing.”
Ri’omola encouraged other young people who dropped out of high school to keep pursuing their dreams.
“My message is: never give up on your education journey. There are many roads to success. We must sacrifice our time and remain willing to learn, no matter what challenges we face.”
Ri’omola’s determination stands as an inspiring reminder that with perseverance, support, and faith, even the hardest obstacles can be overcome.
By Lesley Foinagwa
MASI Stringer
