By Moses M. Tokpah/Margibi
A recent graduate of the LICOSESS College of Education and a resident of Kakata, Sam-Sumo Bahbor, is calling on his peers to not allow age limitation to hinder their educational pursuit.
Bahbor, who is in his 50s, just obtained his first bachelor’s degree in School Administration from the LACOSSE College of Education and he is currently pursuing his second bachelor degree in Public Administration at the University of Liberia.
Despite describing his recent educational achievement as belated on grounds that he should have obtained his first degree in his 20s, Bahbor said he cannot allow his current age to prevent him from pursuing higher education.
The newest BSc holder, in an interview with reporters in Kakata recently, informed people of his age that it is ‘better late than never’ and as such, they should keep engaging until their goal of seeking high education, whether academic or vocational, is achieved despite their ages.
He said they must do something even if it will mean that they obtain some kind of vocational skill, adding that at the end of the day, they will impact lives that will earn them a credit.
According to Bahbor, there is a light at the end of the thunder as such, people of his age should not limit themselves to the issue of age.
“If it were only that age is a factor, then people wouldn’t have been dying at the age of 12 and then we all should be reaching our three scores and ten as being prescribed by the Bible before we could die” he narrated.
He adds, “So, what will you be doing until you can reach up to the three scores and ten; you will still be sitting because you are old now, you are still in your 40s, you are just in your 50s so will you not be achieving anything because of age, then what will happen to people who supposed to be surviving from you in your 55, 56 and or 60?”
Bahbor thinks and feels that people of his age should muster the courage as he has done, noting that if it causes him to get Masters and Ph.D, he is only looking for opportunity that he can make use of so that even if he should die, somebody should boast of his impact.
When asked as to what motivated him to pursue a BSc degree at his current age, Bahbor said he had the mind that there was still a room where somebody could survive on something coupled with the statement that was made by former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that the educational system of Liberia was a ‘mess’.
The LICOSESS graduate continued that his going to school and earning a degree in education will mean a lot not just to himself, but also to the emerging generation who supposed to be their successors indicating that they need to be responsibly cultivated into a responsible academic environment.
Bahbor maintained that he sees the baccalaureate degree he earned in education as a lot more value added to his age because according to him, education in Liberia is dragging on.
He noted that the degree will help to further strengthen the already fragile educational system the country has, especially when people with the authority in the area of education tap on his expertise.
Sam-Sumo Bahbor, re-emphasized the need for his peers to do away with the issue of age and go to school in order to be able to acquire education that will make an everlasting impact on them, their families and the nation.