There is no boundary in trying out new things, it takes a little bit of adjusting but it is not impossible.

Dr Neil Sharma is a medical practitioner based in Suva and former Minister of Health (2009-2014), and is also an executive member of the Fiji College of General Practitioners (FCGP) and graduated from the University of the South Pacific with his master of Arts in Diplomacy & International Affairs.

“As a matured student and as the oldest student in the class, it gives me the practical knowledge and jokingly saying that I have done the practical but I’ve come for the theory”

“There is no end to learning, I have enjoyed it because it helps build your capacity and you’re able to share your knowledge with your people and be able to make life easier for everybody,” he said

The 68-year-old said he has enjoyed the professionalism at USP and the people who taught them were highly professional

“It has given me the view of the region, the geo-political needs of the region and I hope to make a difference to our people in the Pacific”

Dr Sharma said studying with students younger than him was quite different.

“Digital technology has advanced so much that you find the ability to phase yourself, to get phase with the younger ones because they are very fluent in using the internet searching for documents etc. and that was a quiet a challenge”

“But the good thing is I have very good children who have assisted me in using technology, and sure you go on track and try and remember it”

He added there is no limit to education, as education is the only way where individuals become better people

“It is amazing looking at the stats that well over 60% of the graduates are female and I’m so delighted because they are in a better position to live their lives”

Dr Sharma said his education journey was a mix of studying and working as he still runs his little practice in the morning for four hours and in the afternoon he engages himself with some healthy activities.

He has urged the older citizens to be involved with some studying and volunteer work

“I have seen that with our retirement age at 55, a lot of our people just sit around and they are not engaging their brain, and it’s worrying the amount of dementia I’m seeing in our community, so when you exercise something it is bound to be beneficial.”

Story By: viliame@fijisun.com.fj