The many challenges she faced at home have inspired Verenisa Salavoi to succeed in life.

The 22-year-old was among the 437 graduates from three different campuses of the Technical Col­lege of Fiji who graduated at the Swami Vivekananda College (SVC) Hall in Nadi.

She received a Level 2 Cookery Certificate and her aim is to work in the hotel industry. Ms Salavoi said that the struggles she went through in her life had given her the will to strive for a better life.

“Life was not easy for me. My mother passed away a year ago and life had been all uphill in her absence,” she said.

“The struggles that I went through at home have enthused me to leave school and look for a job in Suva.

“I was working and trying to help support my family back home. My dad is a farmer and he is taking care of my other siblings back at home.

“My elder sister, who is married and resides at Nalidi Village in Na­droga, introduced me to the Tech­nical College at Nadroga Navosa.

“I did not hesitate to be part of the Technical College studies. This was an opportunity to pursue a better life than the one I had to en­dure.

“I did not hesitate to grab the op­portunity to continue studying be­cause I always dream of having a better life.

“It was a milestone for me as I journey through life.”

Edited by Percy Kean

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