The damaged schools in Bua did not deter some Year 12 and Year 13 students from sitting for their national exams yesterday.

Aspiring journalist, Waisake Tagaraki, 17, was so thankful to the Ministry of Education for giving students like them the option to choose, either to sit for the exam or get a compassionate pass.

The Year 12 student of Lekutu Secondary School said he was at home in his village in Navakasiga when the winds picked up speed on Thursday last week.

His family vacated to his uncle’s home after the winds blew off the roof of their house.

Waisake said he took breaks from cleaning fallen debris to study despite his parents telling him that there would be no exam.

“I told my mom that I wanted to study for my paper and will help with the cleaning after I sit for my exam,” he said.

Waisake would stay up late in the night and study.

He said it was better for him to prepare in case a chance might be given for them to sit for their exams.

He sat for his Vosa Vaka Viti paper yesterday.

“It was on Monday afternoon when a cousin of mine asked me if I had been studying as the exam had been rescheduled,” he said.

“I was really happy to hear that because I knew I was prepared for it.”

Waisake said seeing his school, home, and community badly affected by Cyclone Yasa did not dampen his spirit, instead it made him more determined that despite the circumstances he and his fellow school mates had gone through, they were going to come out stronger and more resilient.

He said it persevered to excel and do better in life.

All 16 students turned up for the Vosa Vaka Viti paper yesterday afternoon including Waisake.

For Year 12 Physics paper in the morning, five out of seven students turned up.

And for the Year 13 Agriculture paper, two out of seven students sat for the paper.

Edited by Selita Bolanavanua

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