Elly Petro wants to be a leader, to motivate the next generation, and this is a dream she is on her way to achieving.
'I come from Birop, a remote part of East New Britain, it's a small village.'
Eighty-five per cent of Papua New Guineans live in rural areas, with a similar figure relying on small-scale farming for food on the table and an income. In Birop, things haven't been that good.
'Our place, it doesn't produce good food, so basically there is no income for most of the village.'
From stories passed on through her family no one can remember it being any other way.
'They see an educated person come to the village and think, here is someone I cannot relate to, someone I could never be, because I have not had an education.'
It's a division that angers and the same time inspires Elly.
'My heart tells me this is wrong, that everyone cannot have access to learning.'
Elly is enrolled in a Diploma in Teaching at Sonoma Adventist College near Rabaul, and plans to return to Birop upon graduation.
'I want to train the younger children, I want them to see life, to make some slight changes to their mindset so they now they can do good for themselves.'
Through AusAID support, building work will soon start on education rooms, a health clinic and extra female dormitories at Sonoma Adventist College.
This means the College will be able to accept more female students from across the country. It will also mean that more girls like Elly can get an education and contribute to PNG's development.