Not even COVID-19 was able to alter the course of success for Wuhan Master’s graduate Joseva Racaca.

Being at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China last year, Mr Racaca knew the challenge of what it was like to be confined in the four corners of his room alone for 74 days as the city had fought to contain the virus.

On Sunday, the Nanukuloa, Saivou, Ra native received his Masters of Engineering majoring in Cartography and Geographic Information Engineering from the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan.

Making it another reason to celebrate, Mr Racaca graduated a day before he turned 35.

An elated Mr Racaca said though he had to complete his studies in Fiji following his repatriation in February last year. His focus on successfully completing his programme was never lost at any time.

“I left my wife and children behind in 2017 as I embarked on this journey,” he said.

“It was a challenge and the other challenge being I was the only Fijian who studied in this university.

“I would only come back once or twice, I tried to balance it out, both the emotional impact and the educational requirements I had to go through to graduate.”

Mr Racaca was a recipient of a scholarship programme of the Pacific Island Secretariat and the Fijian Government.

He said COVID-19 came as a surprise for Wuhan residents and online learning kept them going.

“There were some classes that were offered online and that was where I thought it would be better for me to return home and complete my studies from here,” he said..

“I took on this challenge knowing too well the time difference and the challenge of not having a supervisor or my tutors beside me to guide me if there were some challenges with my studies.

Repatriation

Mr Racaca was repatriated to Fiji in February last year.

“When I got to Fiji I initially thought of taking a break from studies and returning to work, but I decided to carry on with my studies,” he said.

“The time difference was a challenge, I had to be up at one and 2am to attend my classes.

“My wife has been the backbone because when I left she was the one holding the family together,” he said.

“She had to give up work to look after the children, we have sacrificed so much and that motivated me to keep going.”

To the youth out there, who might have thought that COVID-19 is the end of the world for your studies, Mr Racaca said: “Never give up and always put your faith in God.”

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj