Just because you come from a troubled background, or your life is far from a fairytale, doesn't mean you have to give up.
A 24-year-old tourism and hospitality graduate beat all odds when she became the first female from her electorate to get a degree.
Karray Kumba is from Wasu Local Level Government, Morobe Province. She is a soft-spoken, fair-skinned Morobean who always has a smile on her face.
Loop PNG had the honour of meeting her during yesterday morning's 61st golden jubilee graduation ceremony of the University of Papua New Guinea. Graduands from the School of Business and Public Policy were lining up to enter the Forum Square, UPNG's Waigani campus, where the first graduation session will be held.
The area leading from the UPNG sculpture to the Forum Square roundabout was crowded with proud, smiling parents, relatives and friends. Everyone seemed to be hugging, patting each other on the back and taking an endless amount of pictures, except for this particular young woman who smilingly stood on the side. She didn't seem to be bothered by the fact that she was the only one standing in one spot while her colleagues were squealing in excitement and taking countless selfies around her.
"My parents couldn't make it because of financial constraints," Kumba told Loop PNG. "They're both subsistence farmers. They couldn't afford to get tickets to come to Port Moresby."
"I started my elementary schooling in 1999. From there I went to Sio Primary School, where I completed my Grade Eight in 2007. I was the first female student from Sio Primary School to make it into high school. From Wasu High School I moved onto Busu Secondary School.
“We were the pioneers of 12 line 5 of Busu secondary, Morobe Province.
"From there I came to UPNG to study tourism and hospitality. I want to help market and promote PNG overseas as a tourist destination."
With her head held high, she calmly recalled what it was like spending four years in the nation's capital.
"I went through a lot of struggles, financial struggles. Studying here in UPNG is very expensive.
"My big brother had to quit school just so I could continue with my studies here."
Since her parents were unable to support her financially, her relatives as well as the Morobe Provincial Government stepped in to shoulder the burden.
After her graduation, Kumba proudly held up her degree and said: "I promised my parents that I will bring this paper home and show them that I've achieved what I came to do.
"My favourite Bible verse is Romans 8:31. If God is on my side then who can be against me?"
Kumba said her next step now would be to apply for a job. She hopes to return to her home province to develop tourism there.
Her big brother, who is three years older than her, is currently doing his final year in political science at UPNG. He was there to congratulate her when she exited the square with her degree.