STUDENTS and staff of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) had an exhilarating opportunity to welcome Miss Pacific Islands Moemoana Schwenke of Samoa and the eight young women vying for the Miss Pacific Islands Crown yesterday (Tuesday) and listen to their inspirational stories.

Miss Schwenke and the eight contestants visited the SINU Kukum Campus as part of the many activities lined up in the MPIP 2025 programme.

The staff and students were exhilarated to greet and welcome the intelligent beautiful women into the lecture theatre where they listened to the stories shared by these esteemed women to inspire them in their educational journey.

Miss Schwenke, who was the first to share her story, said after she was crowned Miss Pacific last year in Nauru, she visited many islands in the region and one thing that she found common was ‘Love and Service.’

She said these are fundamental values in the Pacific Islands cultures which she has also learnt.

“I am learning myself and so I won’t have an extra piece of advice. But I think what I would like to say is that the path to leadership is through service and so, you can serve in your families, your communities, your provinces and your nation.

“You can use the education you have acquired here at the Solomon Islands National University to build your families even stronger. I encourage you to continue using your gifts and talents and to share them with your people because that’s how we will continue to build our communities.”

Contestant Number One, Miss Solomon Islands spoke of discipline as the door to many opportunities.

“At the end of the day it’s sometimes not the lack of opportunity, but it’s the lack of discipline that hinders these opportunities and that’s what I found throughout my learning journey.

“If you’re disciplined enough, then there will be opportunities out there. Make sure you’re disciplined and set your goals and know where you are going. Just take one day at a time.”

Contestant Number Two, Miss Samoa underscored the importance of being focused and having the right friends.

 “Firstly, what you can see, you can have it! Where you are looking is where your focus is. The question of ‘why?’ you are here is because you want to provide solutions to your community. It is because you want to make your family proud, it is because you want to improve your standard of living. Holding that ‘Why?’ with you and setting the race here, you just have to keep your eyes on it.

On having the right friends, Miss Samoa said it is crucial for students to choose the right friends who can have a positive influence and impact on their lives.

Contestant Number Three, Miss Tonga spoke on education, underscoring that it is more than just a pathway to knowledge because it is also about personal growth, community development and prosperity.

“During my studies in Fiji, what I have done to overcome my studies was praying because I know that God is bigger than all the struggles. Second, it comes with hard work and dedication to your studies.

“I encourage you all to dream fearlessly. You are all innovators of the Pacific. Believe in yourselves that you’re the future of Solomon Islands. Take the first step, move forward and take your chances.

“Learn continuously and strive for excellence. And I quote from one of my lecturers in Fiji that ‘You are all destined for greatness’.”

Contestant Number Four, Miss American Samoa also spoke on education, emphasising that it begins in the home.

“Though we may live in a time where modern education is the commencement and advancement of communities. I hope that you do not forget the teachings your parents have instilled in you. The value of love, value of respect and to be compassionate and empathic and as students you must not forget that.

 “These values will allow you through life and through your time here at this university, in times of trials and tribulations, you will turn to these values to keep you going.”

Miss American Samoa said Pacific students must not forget that no matter what they learnt in the western academia, they must hold on to the most important knowledge of values passed down from our ancestors.

“The knowledge of our ancestors and traditional way of life has carried us through as Pacific Islanders. Do not ever let the world convince you that the primitive knowledge of our ancestors, our traditional way of life and our cultures are meaningless. Your identity is your guide in life.”

Contestant Number Five, Miss Kiribati highlighted closeness to God and choosing the right friends as crucial to educational success.

She said she did her tertiary studies at a church-owned university in Hawaii in the United States of America and that she succeeded in her studies because of her closeness to God.

She underscored that choosing good friends in school is crucial to students’ learning.

Contestant Number Six, Miss Papua New Guinea spoke of education in the Pacific as a privilege because there are many Pacific men and women who do not attend schools and therefore those attending schools must appreciate being in schools.

Contestant Number Seven, Miss Nauru spoke on the subject ‘failing does not mean failure.’

She said if one looks at all the successful people in the world, at first one may think that they are successful just like ‘it’s magic.’

“But if you ask them, it’s through failing that they succeeded. You can ask each and every one of them and they will tell you they have failed 200 to 300 times. So, I would like to say that failing does not mean failure, it’s just a one-step close to success.”

Miss Cook Islands spoke on the subject of determination.

“If you have chosen a pathway and you feel that it isn’t what you want, it’s never too late to choose another pathway. It’s never too late to start again. If you are determined to pursue it, go for it. Take what God is giving you and stay determined,” she said.

By IAN LADDS OSO

Solomon Star, Honiara