“This second degree is dedicated to my late husband” Jacinta Garu said as tears flowed from her sad eyes.
Jacinta received her first degree in Bachelor of Pharmacy in 2018, and has achieved another this year in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Papua New Guinea.
Her journey toward becoming a doctor was not just her dream; it was also her late husband’s Ammon Makiba’s dream for her to succeed.
“He had a dream for me to become a doctor,” she said.
“I was content with my job at City Pharmacy, but he saw something greater in me.”
Jacinta’s late husband, who had worked as a senior analyst at the Bank of Papua New Guinea, believed in Jacinta’s potential even when she didn’t.
With love and determination, he withdrew her from her job, wrote her resignation letter, and applied to the University of Papua New Guinea on her behalf.
“He pushed me to pursue his dream for me,” Jacinta said.
But just a day before her final exams, tragedy struck. Ammon passed away from a heart attack, leaving Jacinta to struggle with an overwhelming sense of loss.
“On October 24, 2024, he collapsed while going to work,” she recalled with her voice breaking.
“It’s been six months since he left us, and yet I feel his presence with me every day.”
Despite the profound grief she faced, Jacinta channelled her sorrow into her studies. “I know he’s proud of what I’ve achieved,” she said, wiping away tears.
“This degree is not just mine; it’s ours. It’s a culmination of our dreams, hard work, and perseverance.”
As she stood before her peers, Jacinta’s emotional resilience shone through.
“I hope he’s somewhere watching happily,” she expressed. “I want to honour his memory by becoming the doctor he always believed I could be.”
Jacinta’s story is one of love and loss, of pursuing dreams amidst heartache.
“This is more than an academic achievement; it’s a promise to carry his legacy forward,” she concluded, her voice steady, yet filled with emotion.