When his world came to a halt because his mother suffered from paralysis, Pita Matai knew he had to provide for his siblings.

Matai, 22, worked hard and graduated last Friday with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Economics from the University of the South Pacific (USP).

“We got the news that my mother will be partly paralysed in 2020. She resigned from her job as a teacher and that’s when I knew I had to provide for myself,” he said.

“I was renting in Suva and my mother was paying for my rent, but it stopped when she got paralysed.”

Fortunately, his education was sponsored by the Fijian Government through the Tertiary Education and Loans Scheme.

“I was able to go to school and get this piece of paper because of the Government initiative,” he said.

“I had to work while I study to sustain me and my family.

“I moved to the campus hostel where I was able to focus on my education.”

The Vacalea, Kadavu native is the first in his family to graduate with a degree from the university. He is the third of five siblings.

“Today is a new beginning for me and my family because I’ll be able to help them,” he said.

“I’m pursuing my Postgraduate Diploma in Economics alongside my brothers who are also in school.”

Mr Matai said he was able to get through school by placing his trust in God.

“Despite the hurdles, I was able to overcome them by keeping my parents’ struggles in mind. Their sacrifices are beginning to bear fruit now.”

He was among 382 graduates from the university’s School of Accounting, Finance and Economics at the graduation ceremony in Laucala.

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