Now Timaima Studies MBBS Through Ratu Mara Scholarship
Now, thanks to the Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara Education Trust Fund Scholarships, Timaina will be fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor.
Sunday 14 March 2021 | 10:00
Timaima Tuivakano with her Mother, Luisa Kaukilakeba at Studio 6 on March 13, 2021. . Photo: Ronald Kumar
Determined to get a National Toppers Scholarship for entry into medical school, Timaima Tuivakano sat for her Year 13 examination twice.
In 2019, the 19-year-old scored 312 out of 400, She did not reach the cut off mark for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, which was her aim, so she repeated Year 13 again last year.
However, her dream of becoming a doctor was crushed when she heard the announcement by the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board (TSLB) that loans and scholarships for MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) students had been suspended this year.
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Now, thanks to the Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara Education Trust Fund Scholarships, Timaina will be fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor.
She was awarded the scholarship yesterday and will be studying for her MBBS at the University of Fiji in Lautoka.
“I am the first in my family to get into the medical field and getting this scholarship is a blessing in disguise for my family and me,” said Timaima.
“I grew up always wanting to become a doctor so when I scored 312 out of 400 in Year 13 in 2019, I knew I need to repeat to get better marks.
“Last year, I did it and scored 353 and was over the moon, but I had to look at doing other courses because there was no scholarship offered for MBBS.
“I am happy that I am one of the students that have been selected to be a scholarship recipient and that too achieving my dream.”
Timaima said she would work hard and make sure that the Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara Education Trust Fund Management Board never regrets choosing her.
“My parents were so happy when I told them that I have received the scholarship because they knew that I had always wanted to become a doctor,” she said.
“I know that I will need to work hard because I need to keep my grades up.
“One challenge I will be facing is to be away from home as I will be in Lautoka, but I know that my family will always be there to support me.”
Edited by Selita Rabuku
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