Embracing Change Brings Ratu Peni The Dux Award

Embracing change and its challenges has proven to work for Maharishi Sanatan College headboy Ratu Peni Meo.

Having lived in Australia since he was seven years old, he returned to Fiji at the age of 14 and had been home-schooled until 2019. It was last year when change came and he attended Maharishi Sanatan Col­lege for the first time.

Yesterday the 18-year-old scooped his school’s 2020 dux award at the school’s prizegiving ceremony.

“You have embraced change which is a challenge but hard work does pay off,” said the Naboutini, Cakaudrove native.

“Last year was the first year for me to try public school in Fiji after being homeschooled and prior to that, schooled in Australia. I thank the teachers and my family for the support. I also attribute my success in life to God.”

Ratu Peni also achieved the high­est score in Year 12 CE in 2019. He came first in the annual exam, trial exam and Term Two-end exams this year.

He also scored the highest in Agri­culture Studies and Geography.

He aims to further his studies in agriculture with an ambition to be involved in commercial farming.

“This year the world has been hit by the pandemic, but the only in­dustry that’s pretty going well is agriculture,” Ratu Peni said.

The awards ceremony was also a big day for Year 13 student Amisha Varsha Kumar.

Having recently turned 19 on No­vember 29, scooping the 2020 Stu­dent of the Year award was a be­lated birthday gift.

She also scored the highest in an­nual exam when all five subjects are considered. She also achieved her highest scores in Accounting and Economics.

She is aiming to undertake a ca­reer as an accountant and hopes to study at the Fiji National Univer­sity next year.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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