It was my father’s last wish that no matter what, I will work hard and become something in life.

An emotional Pio Low, 32, of Nawi, Cakaudrove said this after he gradu­ated with a Bachelor of Secondary Education from the Fiji National Uni­versity on Friday.

Mr Low said his inspiration came from his late father and the motivation support from his 68-year-old mother and six siblings.

In 2012 just before joining Lautoka Teachers College to pursue a Higher Education Diploma, his father passed away.

“My father told me to do my best, be­come something in life and work hard to achieve my goals,” Mr Low said.

“Those words echoed in my everyday tertiary life despite many challenges I faced.

“I began as a private student and my mother had to make a lot of sacrifices along with my siblings to help pay for my tuition in the first year before I se­cured a scholarship that enabled me to complete my studies.

“Earnings from our farm in Taveuni was what helped me complete my first year of studies.”

In 2016 after Mr Low was posted to Taveuni South, he decided to upgrade his qualification as per the require­ment from the Ministry of Education.

The geographical location and net­work problems did not dampen his spirits but rather kept him on his toes to be on par with his studies.

He gave up socialising with his friends and personal commitments and stayed back in school during the lockdown to work on his assignments and do research.

Mr Low overcame the challenge of losing a parent before embarking on his tertiary journey and has encour­aged young people not to give up, but trust God to direct their paths.

“Whenever I miss my dad and feel lonely, I would pray that God would fill the void and be my Fa­ther,” he said.

The inspirational teacher has now already enrolled for a postgraduate programme at the University of the South Pacific’s Sa­vusavu Campus.

Feedback: laisa.kabulevu@fijisun.com.fj