Alumni Feature – Sebangaz Siming
Written by: Sebangaz Siming, with introduction by The Voice Inc.
Posted on: 30 April 2019
It’s been a while since we last shared an alumni feature and we have hundreds more features to cover. We aim to share stories of everyday people that not only spark a flame but give light to a place and time in history. Long before storytelling was a trend on social media, it was a tool for our people. This tool was used to keep history, whether it be of a recent time/place/event or stories from way back that became legends in time.
Whilst we value the many stories in circulation full of inspiration, hope and promise, we hope to also bring you one that indulges in our culture, values, places, history and our people. Thus our seventh alumni feature - Sebangaz Siming "The Inquisitive Mind".
Sebangaz’ story is a tool. Her journey to TVI and after will send you wandering into time and most importantly her space.
We share and hope enjoy our seventh alumni feature - "The Inquisitive Mind".
Gone are the days when I, and many others like me would roam the streets freely. Without the burden of looking over my shoulder, this is how I grew up in my childhood days. I grew up in Madang (my paternal side of life), a chilled and easy going place. My childhood was an adventure. I had the luxury to live very freely and explore which allowed me to develop an inquisitive nature to be a free kindle spirit. I would independently take walks to town from home (Admin Compound) as early as the age of 9 years old. Sometimes my Mum would finish work and meet me halfway at the shops to pick up groceries for the house. The distances I walk equate to the distance from the Independent Boulevard to Vision City. I was exposed to this freedom and it was empowering. The only negative thing we would be warned of in Madang at that time were house robberies that hardly occurred.
We lived in many places in Madang including Kranget Island from time to time and Samun Island. Something that stands out in my mind as truly fun were my many fishing expeditions on the islands. I enjoyed the activity more than the actual result of a fish being caught on my hook. It was an adventure, a whole experience that fuelled my imagination or were a manifestation of them.
I lived all around and experienced every bit of Madang. If there was one thing that stood out to me in Madang it would be the community. I lived in a community full of raw and honest people who have the most over-trusting and over-sharing issues(sharing this fact in the most sincerest of ways). That was real beauty of Madang apart from its alluring tourist attractions we had some of the best communities. These traits of the people from Madang never grew weary, I even remember the lot I came with to UPNG still possessed these priceless characteristics. Madang was also rich in its history &culture, it has been said that 25% of PNG’s languages are found in Madang. I am a classic example of this hence my first name “Sebangaz”.
I inherited my name from my father’s great aunt, Sebangaz II. She inherited the name from Sebangazzen I the second born daughter of the founding father of the Imalan Clan of which my family Siming is part of. The name takes on the suffix of –zen , meaning The Great, is added to a name to note that this person is an ancestor. So 5 generations from now I will be referred to as Sebangazzen III (I guess I better make my children know this bit of culture and history) Very little is known of Sebangazzen I. My grandmother confirms she married a man on the mainland village of Siar along the North Coast of Madang. I like to think she was adventurous, strong-willed and maybe a bit sassy, like most second born children tend to be.
By now I may have “over-shared” my passion for Madang. What can I say, its expected. But I think it is equally important to know where you come from and know the meaning to your name. There is power in the name! Before Christianity/colonization, we had traditional names inherited from one generation to another. Your traditional name told a story or signified a special item, whether it be a big fire or a simple rock; an event that become a legend; a warrior that became a role model, there is so much to unlock in just your name.
I left the nest with my name in 2012 when I moved onto UPNG. I never lived outside Madang for over a month, the thought of fours long year without, was heart-wrenching but it had to be done.
My entire University experience at UPNG was defining for me as an individual. I had exposure to various groups, art & culture, opportunities, initiatives, places. Further deepened my understanding of people, the world outside of my adventurous fishing expeditions and I developed an appreciation of diversity and complexity of society. My attitudes towards people completely changed.
I signed up for the DREAM program in semester 2 of the UPNG academic year whilst a first year student. The word DREAM arrested my attention one day as I browsed the halls the School of Business reading notices on walls. Simply because I had my understanding of aspirations/ambitions/goals whatever one calls it, and with my inquisitive mind I couldn’t ignore a youth organization working to identify and further develop potential in young people, I identified with that. It was an easy decision to sign up. After completing the DREAM program I had a clear sense of tying my values to my journey and how I want to live and develop my identity. Making life choices have come easier with a clear understanding of self, values and the desired direction of my journey ahead.
I remained the inquisitive adventurous Madang lass and stepped into the work force at KTF shortly after graduation. I loved my job since I was able to experience rural PNG. I swam under the night skies in Finschaffen Morobe province and did my first ever solo trip to Goroka. I also did a family trip to where I spent almost 2 months in East Sepik, Angoram district where my step-mother is from. I travelled on the Sepik river as far as Black Wara to purchase rubber crops. The experience gave me appreciation of access to basic goods and services and also innovation and adaptability of the river people as I noticed the architecture of homes were specific to the region/environment. My many adventures and collection of lifestyles, processes, people and places led me to a career path in Project Management.
I now work at Kina Bank in the Project Management Office (PMO). PMO drives strategic and innovative projects that transforms the business. It is a challenging and rewarding space/discipline to work in. I get to work alongside a good cross-section of teams and executives in Kina Bank, understanding their business needs and working with specialists to deliver tech solutions or improve business processes.
In addition to my day job, I am an advocate for mental health and well being. I am working on a passion project called Be-hive. which will be launched this year (fingers crossed). With my role in Project Management at Kina Bank, Every day I learn so much from my Team, my immediate boss and working in some capacity on the ANZ acquisition is the most unique and interesting thing for me. I mean, to think this is what case studies are made of, and this is currently my every day is insane. I feel overwhelmingly blessed to be alive at this time.
Life has taken me through many journeys and scenarios, my story is one simply about my appreciation for my surroundings(including people).
I believe in and value the rich wisdom of the elders and the spirit of nature/environment. I believe there is so much to learn from the elders, that we can apply lessons learned to transform ourselves as individuals that has a domino effect on the world around us or the spaces in which we move and exist. Work place, school, village, etc. They were great innovators, architects, agriculturalists, traders, project managers, teachers, healers, historians, midwives, and all the other professions that exist today. While they (ancestors) pursued for development and improved lifestyles, they were respectful of nature and that served them well.
Life and its lessons have taught me, you can either take up space or you can define it!