Growing up as a middle child of four siblings, the priority of education was always passed around according to the finances in the family.

Nevertheless, one thing 31-year-old Vikrant Shandil was proud about was being born into two cultural backgrounds of iTaukei and Indo-Fijian.

Mr Shandil was one of the 45 students of the University of the South Pacific who were admitted to the bar on Friday by Chief Justice Kamal Kumar.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Law.

Mr Shandil said he knew he was different in the sense that he always carried the rainbow flag to differentiate his identity.

“Life was and is still tough when you’re bullied by people that don’t understand your narrative of being you,” Mr Shandil said.

“This journey may seem simple but I had to wear different hats to stand here today.”

“From being a kitchen handwashing pots at a noble house in flagstaff to selling product over the phone in a call center in Laucala beach.”

“Having to weed and landscape the gardens of a street sidewalk to roll up outfits at the backstage of a fashion show.”

“As time passed, I once again became the priority in the house where my education was the only escape plane in which the law school journey began,” Mr Shandil said.

He said law was a respectable profession and that respect was what he was looking for.

Mr Shandil said he began this journey to gain respect from the bullies that he encountered making fun of his masculinity, the respect, from those who felt he was useless and the respect in general for being him.

“It’s funny that we don’t talk about it more as people like me are often tolerated but not educated about,” Mr Shandil said.

“One thing life has taught me is to be grateful for going through this disastrous year and still stand here in the sea of blacks and whites.

“Grateful with a heavy heart of my dearly beloved Dad who I call Papa, Bisesh Shandil who departed three months ago and if he was to be here today, he would be so happy having to witness my dreams become a reality.”

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj