Challenges fail to deter Navara

Being admitted to the bar as a lawyer was worth the call for Pio Navara.

Mr Navara almost gave up his law studies a year ago because of financial constraints.

Opting to do farming for two years in his village in Nalawa, Ra, was a break from the long hours of studying.

Starting his law studies in 2019 at the University of the South Pacific was the biggest breakthrough for him. The 26-year-old was one of the 33 USP graduates who became lawyers during their Admission to the Bar ceremony at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Friday.

Mr Navara said in his village, getting quality education and trying to reach university was a challenge.

“Pursing a Law degree at the university level was a brave choice I had to make despite the financial struggles,” Mr Navara said.

“But the dream of becoming a lawyer started from when I was in high school.

“I didn’t want to let that go, I decided to chase the dream.”

Through the whole course of his law studies, Mr Navara had to face the uphill battle of financial struggles that created pits stops along the way.

Taking a break from all those, farming was his escape to do get some form of income to sustain him.

Mr Navara said a lot of expectations were on him because he was the eldest in his family”.

That didn’t stop him from attaining a Bachelor’s degree and now being admitted to the Bar. Through the struggles of trying to make his family proud, Mr Navara kept his word and faith that he will make it through.

"My mother didn’t have a stable job, but she made sure that my siblings and I were educated,” he said.

“As I walked to the podium to be sworn-in, I remember the hardship my parents went through to ensure that we were educated, especially the sleepless nights, not eating properly just so they could give us a better life.

He is now employed by law firm.

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