13 Years Not Too Late for Matua school dux

Returning to the classroom after 13 years was a step of faith for Daiana Radrodro.

Ms Radrodro knew the positives about returning to school after facing life’s challenges.

While attending high school, she struggled with peer pressure - she was involved with the wrong crowd that led to her skipping classes.

On Thursday, she stood proudly beside her father after receiving the Nabua Secondary School Matua Program dux award during the prizegiving ceremony.

Ms Radrodro shared how she struggled to feed her two children; running out of options she went down on her knees to pray.

She said the only way out of poverty was through education.

“It was a crucial decision I had to make, knowing the state I was in, being a single mother and trying to provide for my children,” she said.

Only God knows the storm I was in. I’m glad I regained my self-confidence and told myself that I was going to do this with or without support.”

After completing Year 12 and Year 13, Ms. Radrodro’s journey was disrupted in March when she was involved in a car accident.

It threatened her education and goals because she didn’t expect to end up in a hospital bed. She recovered and resumed her studies.

“It’s a hard world out there. You may have a paid job, but it’s just a paycheck you live on from one pay to the next.

“These days, it’s all about qualifications,” she said.

“As Fijians, we are often embarrassed by our age and our failures, but we must stand up and grow,” she said.

The 28-year-old dreams of furthering her studies at the University of the South Pacific, majoring in Social Work and Politics.

Her father Alipate Radrodro thanked God for blessing his daughter.

“When my daughter came home and told us she wanted to go back to school, we were happy and fully supported her,” he said.

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