Shareen Reshmi Lata Lal, has come a long way from being a waitress to a garment worker to a Police officer to now being a lawyer.

The 41-year-old was one of the 11 University of Fiji students who were admitted to the Bar at the High Court in Suva on Friday.

It was after she went into the Fiji Police Force that she learned about law and generated a passion to become a lawyer.

Her journey was an arduous one due to financial constraints where she could not complete her tertiary education and had to start her life with just a high school qualification.

Despite this, the hurdles of life and family struggle could not stop the Ra woman from making her dreams come true.

“I could not complete my tertiary education due to financial constraints so I found an employment opportunity to move on in life,” Ms Lal said.

“I worked as a waitress and a garment factory worker. Later I joined the Fiji Police Force which at that time was the most secured job for me.

“Seeing lawyers every day, seeing how they addressed the court from the Bar; seeing how they were with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law while as a Police officer with only high school background, the difficulties we faced in court was a challenge for me,” Ms Lal said.

The first lawyer in her family said she thought to pursuing a career in the legal fraternity, in order to have equal qualifications and knowledge to help bring justice to victims of crime.

“After I resigned from the Fiji Police Force after 13 years, I joined the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji where I found a much better opportunity and advancement,” Ms Lal said.

“It was not easy to have a full-time job, be a full-time student, look after the family and manage to do my assignments.

“It sounds easy, but it is so much harder for one to manage it.

“Without the support I had from my husband, my son, and in-laws, I know I would not have made it without them.”

Ms Lal said there were times when she wanted to give up on everything and be a domestic woman with an 8am to 5pm job.

However, she credits her husband as the person who kept her going and pushed her more than ever to reach her goal.