We’ve all heard this question. We’ve been asked it at some stage in our lives.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Many children say they want to become lawyers, teachers, civil engineers and so forth.

Some achieve them. Others don’t.

For an 18-year-old of Samatau, he is adamant he will achieve his.

Meet Junior Paulepule. His dream is to become a Church Minister.

This is what he has always dreamed of becoming in the future when he finishes school.

But before he fulfills his dream he told the Village Voice that he wants to make sure that his parents and family are well looked after when he goes off to Malua.

“Being a pastor is what I have always dreamed of,” he said.

“I know many people say that being a pastor is hard but I want to serve God and that is why I am being a very good boy and trying so hard to stay out of trouble.

“But before I go ahead and fulfill my dream I have to make sure that my family is well looked after.

“This will be my last year in College and so I want to make sure I get to UPY next year and then get a scholarship and lastly graduate from university and get a good job so I can look after my parents.

“I have to make sure my parents are settling within these four years that I will be away from home and living in Malua.”

So what is Mr. Paulepule doing at this time while school is out?

“I go fishing with one of my friends from our village,” he told the Village Voice.

“From the fish that we get from our faiva we either sell or we cook it for dinner but most of the times we sell it to get money for our church commitments, village commitments and especially to look after our families.”

So how much does Mr. Paulepule get from selling fish?

“I get like $300 a day when the market is good but if not then $150 a day but still that is a lot,” he said.

“I make sure that my parents are well looked after and also that money I get from my market helps my schooling as well.

“These are the things that I do while school is out because I know once school starts then it becomes my first priority and even with my parents they always prioritise my school before anything else.

“I hope and pray that one day I will be able to pay back all that my parents had done for me but even if I do repay them back it will never be enough compared to all the love and care and the many sacrifices that they had done for me from when I was a baby up until now.”

Moreover Mr. Paulepule said he is relying on God for His help throughout his journey.

“There is a saying that goes “if there’s a will there’s a way” and that’s my belief and it also got me through all these years,” he said.

“I am willing to work extra hard to make sure I reach my goal and I cannot do it alone without the help of God so I truly believe that He will fulfill all my dreams.”