There will be difficulties along the way, but if you have set a goal then you must continue to move forward, says 21-year-old Jordana Ganilau.

Ms Ganilau graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Tourism and Hospitality Management last Friday.

“I am very happy that I accomplished what I had set out to do,” she said.

“It is a great relief that everything is finished, but it is also sad because this phase of our lives is now over.”

She hails from the island of Taveuni and hopes to further her studies to post graduate level.

“I want to pursue academic work in the tourism industry,” she said.

“There is a lot of work that goes around in environment and sustainability and so research in that area would be good.”

She thanked her mother Bernadette Rounds Ganilau for encouraging her to pursue tourism studies.

“I was not really sure of what I wanted to do in the beginning, but my mum encouraged me to try this out,” she said.

“I actually started to enjoy it and it brought me out of my shell.

“There were challenges, everybody has them, but the key is to hold on to the purpose of why you are studying. That will steer you in the right direction.”

Her mother, a writer, former parliamentarian and broadcaster, said she was proud of her daughter’s achievements.

“Not only my daughter, but all these young people are going to go out and lead and I am so proud of all of them,” she said.

“Our time is over, now is the time for the younger generation to stand up, speak out and move forward.”

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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