Beverly Vai has come a long way to be named as head girl of a prestigious boarding school in the country.

What’s more inspiring about this story is that Beverly was sent here by her parents from Papua New Guinea, and she’s been with Adi Cakobau School (ACS) in Sawani, Nausori, since Year 9.

Beverly, in front of a hundred or more parents and guardians, was badged as head girl yesterday at the school and becomes the first PNG and foreign student to be given the honour.

More than 130 students were presented with their student prefect badges during the induction ceremony.

The 19-year-old from Port Moresby said her former Head girl last year 2019, Vilimaina Tuivaga, was her inspiration, who encouraged her to do the best of my ability.

“She always told me to keep God as my foundation and to always be a humble leader and never forget God in anything I did,” she said.

Beverly said it was challenging to stay far away from her hometown to prosper in a new home and school in Fiji.

“I started my journey in Fiji in Year 9 at ACS. The distance was hard, but I have a guardian who opened her home for me to support me,” she said.

“Many parents in PNG send their children to boarding schools here because of the discipline issue back home. It helps mold the students and allows them to be independent.

“I lived in PNG when I saw many students come here for their education. For obvious reasons, it is cheaper and schools here offer the same standard of education compared to international schools in PNG.”

Beverly’s guardian, Ana Soqeta, has been by her side since Year 9 and she too is a former student of ACS.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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