Queen Victoria School Year 12 student Prety Ram aims to become a flight attendant in the future and to wave the Floreat Viti flag with her around the world.

“I will be proud tell the world that I was a student of this school,” 16-year-old Prety said.

The soft spoken Tailevu native is one of a handful of girls attending one of the best boarding schools in the country.

She said it was an honour to be educated at the prestigious school like QVS and follow in the footsteps of her aunt who attended the school earlier.

The Social Science student said her dad’s younger sister, who currently resides in Australia, was an old scholar of QVS.

“It was my father’s decision to put me here because his younger sister attended this school too,” Prety said.

“Ever since I was little girl growing up, I heard stories of how this school had produced great leaders in the past. Yes, it is a privilege to be part of QVS.”

Prety’s family lives at a settlement near Lawaki Village in Tailevu where her father’s work on a farms acts as the main source of income.

“QVS is my second family and I have called them my brothers,” she said.

Prety said the environment at QVS had changed her.

“Before I joined this school, I was a mild girl who didn’t even know how to speak,” she giggled.

“QVS has moulded me to face the world outside of my comfort zone. To be here you have to learn to survive in a male dominated institution. I did that over the past years.”

Prety said being in a male dominated would not deter her from success.

“My classmates are very supportive and helpful , I feel at home when I am in school. The boys have so much respect for us female students,” she said.

Prety said QVS had instilled discipline on her which she also believed would take her far in future.

She said she was privileged to be part of the reopening of the school yesterday by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

“I am so proud to be part of this school and never regretted the decision by my father to send me here.

“I want to thank the teachers and the Government for their endless work in upgrading our school,” she said.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

Feedback:  arieta.vakasukawaqa@fijisun.com.fj