Phillie Julai is the Student Representative Council President at Divine Word University in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. Phillie shares some of the challenges she has faced serving in her role.

Hello! My name is Shannon Sogavare and I'm from Solomon Islands (Choiseul & Malaita Province) I'm 16 years old and currently studying in Betikama Adventist College doing my grade 11.

In July 2019, I embarked on a life changing adventure. It sounds cliché, hyperbolic, but I mean it. Sitting at the Adelaide Airport, waiting for my flight to Port Moresby (POM) via Brisbane, I started to panic. What was I doing? I knew almost nothing about the country I was about to spend 6 months in. I had only recently learned that Papua New Guinea was Australian territory until 1975. What was the food like, the weather, the people?

I was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia. We lived in a suburb called Springwood. A very friendly neighbourhood, close to the schools I attended. I was very fortunate growing up, I had hard-working parents that provided a very comfortable lifestyle for us. We were lucky to be able to travel quite often and visit our Island home Rarotonga once a year.

Welcome, Welkam, Halo Oloketa, Noa'ia, Mauri, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Tālofa, Kia orana, Mālō e lelei, Mālō nī, Talofa lava, Tēnā koutou katoa, Bienvenue, Maeva.