Farmer graduates against all odds, inspires rural youth

For eight years, Epineri Lata worked the fields under the hot northern sun, his hands rough from farming and his dreams buried deep beneath the soil of Yaro Village in Macuata.

Life was simple but hard. Every morning, he rose before dawn, tending to crops and animals, wondering if this was all life had to offer.

“I was in the village, farming every day just to help my family,” the 28-year-old said. “But deep down, I kept thinking, this can’t be the end of my story.”

Mr Lata had only spent one year in tertiary education before giving up. The pressure of adjusting to city life, financial struggles, and the feeling of being left behind drove him back home.

For years, he carried silent regret until one unexpected opportunity changed everything.

Through the Pacific Communities University (PCU), a scholarship was offered to young Pacific Islanders to study a Diploma in Pasifika Leadership and Resilience.

For Lata, it felt like a door reopening, a second chance to chase the dream he thought was gone.

He seized the opportunity and graduated today from PCU.

“I told myself, maybe this time, I’ll do it differently,” he said. “I wanted to learn not just for myself, but so I can help others back in the village.”

Leaving behind the comfort of home and the security of the farm, he travelled from the island of Kia in Macuata, determined to start again.

But the road wasn’t easy. There were nights of doubt, times when he felt like giving up.

“Sometimes I just wanted to stop,” he admitted. “But I remembered how far I came, from the farm to the classroom, and I told myself to keep going.”

That determination paid off. During his graduation rehearsal last week, he felt proud.

“I felt happy,” he said. “Because this achievement is not just mine. It’s for my parents, my village, and everyone who never stopped believing in me.”

Now, Mr Lata plans to return home to inspire other young people who feel stuck or forgotten.

“To anyone who feels like giving up,” he said, “remember, no matter how long you’ve been lost, it’s never too late to find your purpose.”

 Feedback: rariqi.turner@fijisun.com.fj