Jack’s journey to academic success

IN the remote village of Iriqila, North Vella, Western Province, Jack Runi Kulebe has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for his community.
Graduating from Form 6 at RC Nicholson Secondary School last week, Kulebe achieved a remarkable feat, finishing third in Accounts and Economics despite having faced significant challenges in his academic journey.

His story is one of perseverance, resilience and the power of self-belief that were wielded by the challenges he faced.

Born with bilateral lower limb deformities or mobility impairment, Jack, who turns 22 next month, has never been able to walk long distances without becoming weak.

His mobility is limited, making tasks that physically-abled people take no time to do and take for granted, a daily struggle. Yet, rather than allowing this to define him or hold him back, Kulebe pushed forward with the determination to achieve his dreams.

Kulebe began his primary school education and the first three years of his secondary education at the Iriqila Community School.

He later passed his Form 3 examination class and secured himself a placement to do Form 4 and 5 at Vonunu National Secondary School (now called RC Nicholson College) in South Vella. Kulebe’s good performance in the Form 5 National Exams saw him secure a placement for Form 6 at the school.

Kulebe sees his completion of Form 6 as a remarkable achievement. 

“I was very happy and joyous that I made it through and being a person with special needs, I faced many new challenges to get here and it was through hope and determination,” he said.

His journey through primary and secondary school has been marked by both triumphs and challenges but his commitment to education has never wavered.

Attending RC Nicholeson, a boarding school located far from his village, presented new challenges for Kulebe. 

Boarding life was daunting at first and was a great test to his will and adaptability to above the odds.

“It was tough in the beginning,” Kulebe told Solomon Star in an interview during the RC Nicholson Graduation ceremony last Thursday.

“I would sometimes feel ashamed or neglected because I couldn’t do everything like the other normal students,” he said.

Yet, despite these feelings, Kulebe’s courage and determination helped him overcome his fears and his peers began to rally around him, treating him like family.

“I made friends with other students who became like brothers and sisters to me. They helped me a lot, both emotionally and physically. Their support was something that I’ll always be grateful for.”

Despite the strong friendships he forged, Kulebe still had to navigate the reality of living with others in an environment that has not been built to infrastructurally accommodate him.

“I find it difficult to walk long distances and I have issues with balancing and steadying myself.”

But Kulebe’s classmates and schoolmates have always been on his side, helping to assist him walk to his classroom and the places he wished to go.

“However, sometimes I can sense people make fun of me but I don’t mind them. 

“I’m just happy to focus on my studies, dreams and vision. After all, we are all just human beings,” he expressed.

As Kulebe’s physical condition does not allow him to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities, he remained focused on his studies, which are driven by his dream to become a medical doctor.

Growing up, Kulebe was passionate about pursuing a career in medicine and surgeon. He envisioned himself as a doctor, helping others and giving back to his community.

However, the physical demands of the profession—standing for long hours in a clinic or hospital—made him realize that his dream might not be practical given his condition.

 “It was hard to accept at first,” Kulebe said, reflecting on the moment he decided to change his career path.

 “But I know that I could still make a difference in a different way. As a result, at Form 6, I chose to go for accounting and economics instead,” he said.

Kulebe’s natural aptitude for numbers and analytical thinking quickly became apparent in his performance at Form 6 and he embraced this new direction with the same determination as the previous.

In his final year at RC Nicholeson, his hard work paid off and he graduated as the third best overall student in Accounting and Economics.

And it is a remarkable achievement for any student, let alone someone with physical challenges.

Kulebe’s success is not only testament to his resilience and determination but also to the power of community support.

His classmates, teachers and family members have played an integral role in his journey, helping him navigate the challenges of school life and giving him the encouragement he needed to succeed.

“I wouldn’t be here without them. Moreover, my parents are my everything,” Kulebe said with a smile.

“They’ve helped me believe in myself even when things were tough. And so, I hope that I will join the country’s pool of accountants and economists. That is my wish.”

Kulebe said he hopes to use his accounting and economics skills to help manage financial resources for his community and for the nation.

“I want to give back to my people and the nation in my new career path. I know I can make a difference.”

Kulebe’s journey is a proof that determination, self-belief and community support, no dream is out of reach even when the road to achieving it is steep and difficult.

Currently, RC Nicholson College enrolls over 700 students from Form 1 to Form 7.

By ULUTAH GINA

Solomon Star, Gizo