“I always feel inferior to talk when I am among my colleagues, because of my level of education”-he says
By P. Clarence Jackson in Gbarnga, Liberia latifahkpah172@gmail.com
The old adage, “it’s never too old to learn” came full circle in Liberia’s central city of Gbarnga, Bong County recently, when a 52-year-old father of over a dozen children marched up to the stage along with teenagers and other youths to receive his High School diploma.
The 69th graduation program of the William V. S. Tubman Gray United Methodist High School this year was special. It did not only attract many parents and family members of children graduating, but many were attracted by the fact that an an adult over age 50 was part of the graduating class.
Reverend David S. Suamie, 52, Pastor of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in Bong County, was among the 71 graduates.
The entire graduation hall went into jubilation when Reverend Suamie was called to receive his diploma, while his wife children and grandchildren rushed with their smart phones to take photos of their Father and grandfather.
In an interview with www.newspublictrust.com shortly after the program, Reverend Suamie said he felt very happy graduating from high school because t education is light and if one is not educated that person is darkness
“Look, I am a Reverend of the gospel but I always feel inferior to talk when I am among my colleagues (Pastors), because of my level of education, so I see my graduation today as a redemption from academic slavery to enlightenment,” Pastor Suamie said.
“My graduation will help not only my immediate family and friends, but my Church and the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church by extension,” the oldest graduate of the Tubman Gray High School said.
Reverend Suamie, who is currently the senior Pastor of the Pelele United Methodist Church in Zota District in Bong County, is a Father of 13 living children.
“I am surprised to be gradating today at the age of 52 because I started going to school since 1987 but am graduating today because of the war, the lack of support and family burden and I think it should send a strong message to others who think they are too old to go to school,” the 52-year-old 2018 high school graduate explained.
“For me what matters is determination and hard work. Three of my children are out of high school and one from the University of Liberia”. As a matter of fact, my first daughter just graduated from the Phebe School of Nursing, so it tells you how determined I have been in spite of all that,” Rev. Suamie said.
But he is not satisfied with the newly acquired high school diploma and the 52-year-old grandfather plans to go even farther up the educational ladder.
The Methodist cleric has appealed to the leadership of the Gbarnga district Conference of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Liberia Samuel Quire to help him realize his dream of earning BTH degree in Theology.
Rev. Suamie has meanwhile extended an SOS called to the leadership of Bong County, especially members of the Legislative Caucus to assist him go to University.