Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail:
Pursuit for Holiness

By Xavier Loipio, DBTS graduate, 2009

Gabutu, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 3 November 2019 -- Success can happen to anyone, for myself it all began at Don Bosco Technical School.

I dropped out of high school, I lived the life of a drug addict for 3 years and had an attitude problem. Then to make ends meet I resorted to selling betel nut. As the days rolled on, I often wondered, “What will I do with my life?’

One day I was encouraged by Fr Jess Escala (former Principal) to study in Don Bosco Technical School. At Don Bosco I received what I needed to succeed: Punctuality, Counselling and Time management. I then evaluated my life and made a big decision.

My name is Xavier Loipio and I am 33 years old. I am a devout Catholic, single and from a mixed parentage of North Solomon and the Gulf province. I graduated from Don Bosco Technical School, Gabutu in 2009, in Maintenance Fitting and Machining (MFM). I then started my career as a Marine Fitter at PNG Dockyard Ltd. I have completed 10 years of work in the industry. Of course, I faced several challenges and managed to conquer these and continue my endeavour. Being in the industry for this period of time does not guarantee that I know everything. I am still learning and continuously upgrading myself.

DON BOSCO was the light at the end of my tunnel to become an outstanding citizen, a successful and professional skills person and a role model in my community.

With the skills I acquired at Don Bosco Technical School, I went on to obtain my tradesman certificate in MFM trade at Port Moresby technical College, Certificate III in Machine Fitting in Mechanical Trade at the Australian Pacific Technical Coalition (APTC) and an a Advanced Diploma – I.V.Q Level 3 in Oil and Gas Maintenance at Kumul Petroleum Academy, South Pacific Employment Institution.

One of my greatest accomplishment has been as President of the Australia Pacific Technical Coalition Alumni PNG from 2017-18. During my time with APTC I have met educated professionals in the TVET sector, Education sector and very important people at APTC like Helen Leeson, Chief Academic Officer, Dr Brad Shaw, Country Directory-PNG Campus and David Pepyet former SVTA for Engineering. These are the people who have inspired me to become someone in life. I am grateful to all of them. I am also one of the pioneers of Kumul Petroleum Academy/South Pacific Employment Institution as well as 4th Batch of ExxonMobil training program. With my leadership qualities I am presently working as a Mechanical Technician Team Leader with an Comlek Electrical Engineering Ltd. An Australian Based company.

Maintenance, Fitting and & Machining is a rapidly evolving field. One of the most exciting aspects of MFM trade is how it overlaps so many industries. This means you can find work in any industry you like – the possibilities are endless. One of my biggest challenges is adjusting to the new workflow and creating a new type of report to present to my supervisor.

Looking back, the two most important things that I have learnt from Don Bosco is time management and punctuality. I would always arrive 5 or 10 minutes before the start of school and was never absent from school. These two important values, opened me to great skills.

Two skills that I value the most are: Trade Drawing and the ability to read technical drawings. Because of these skills, I am always one step ahead of others. If you know how to read or interpret a drawing, your work will be easy. I want to express my gratitude to Don Bosco and my instructors for teaching me these skills.

Two people who have played a major part in my life are: Mr Martin Dai and Mr George Isoaimo. These two people have been there every step of my way till the day I graduated. They disciplined me and encouraged me to be the best in life. I did make mistakes but I learnt from those mistakes. By learning from those mistakes, I was able to progress in my life.

My encouragement to the Bosconians is to learn as much as you can because everything in this really technical world is right where you are studying now. Your dreams and goals in life are achieved through hard work. Do not go where the path may lead you, instead where there is no path a leave a trail. In that way, you will inspire others to follow you.

Our families, friends and community and the experiences we have contributed to our sense of who we are and how we view the world. Understand how God moves in your life. Trust in God and never give up the hope of heaven. This sort of hope provides me an anchor that keeps me grounded and firm in truth and in my pursuit of holiness.

Without Don Bosco I would not been able to accomplish these things. I am eternally grateful to Don Bosco for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

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