AT just 21 years old, Michael Keni, a young man from Choiseul Province with family roots in Guadalcanal and Malaita, has shown remarkable courage and perseverance in his education journey, one marked by hardship, family tragedy, and unshakable determination.
Keni, who was recently named Form 7 Dux of Goldie College in Western Province, shared his story of struggle and resilience that has inspired many of his teachers and peers.
Michael began his early education at Wairoka Kindergarten and Pre-School before moving on to primary school in Guadalcanal Province.
His parents, both local farmers, were not formally employed, and meeting school expenses was always a challenge.
He was the last born out of five children.
He missed out on standard one but continued from Standard two to six after his father found employment at the Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL) plantation.
Keni did well in his year six exams and was initially placed at Florence Young School before transferring back to Nguvia Secondary School, where he completed Forms One to Five.
He later attended St. Joseph Tenaru School for Form Six and successfully gained entry into Keni described his education as “quiet but filled with hardship.”
“I always focused on doing my best and studying smart to become a good citizen and find a good job in the future,” he said.
He recalled how his elder brother played a key role in supporting his education financially.
“My parents were always there for me, but it was my elder brother who paid my school fees because he also worked at GPPOL,” Keni said.
However, tragedy struck in 2023 when his brother died in an electrocution accident.
The loss deeply affected him, forcing him to take a break from school for a year before returning to repeat Form Six.
He said his brother’s death became a turning point in his life.
“I wanted to study science, but after my brother’s accident, I decided to switch to law,” he explained.
He said his motivation for choosing law came from a desire to seek justice for his late brother, whose case remains unresolved due to family disputes and company complications.
“I want to become a lawyer so I can help my family and others who struggle to find justice in their lives,” he expressed.
“Because of the company did not buy his brother’s life, he wants to seek justice for his brother that left them in 2023”.
Keni highlighted the lack of science facilities and equipment as one of the main challenges for students in Solomon Islands schools.
“For science students, we need proper facilities and instruments for experiments and exploration. These help develop students’ capabilities and confidence,” he said.
Despite these obstacles, he said his mother’s continuous support and the memory of his brother kept him motivated to complete his studies.
When asked what message he would give to other young people facing similar struggles, Michael said:
“Have positive thoughts, appreciate your parents’ hard work, stay motivated, and study smart,” he said.
“Time management is important — whether it’s waking up early for school, work, or meetings, being on time makes a big difference,” he added.
Michael was one of the Goldie College students out of 664 students enrolled at Goldie College which is owned United Church of Solomon islands (UCSI).
And he was happy to be one of the top students in his class this year.
Keni’s story is one of hope and perseverance a reminder that even through loss and hardship, determination and faith can pave the way toward a brighter future.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
