Former MBHS student scores rare treble

Iowane Sakealevu scored a rare treble during the Ministry of Youth graduation ceremony at the Labasa Civic Centre yesterday.

He was the only graduate among 55 who took three special awards.

The 23-year-old student of Naqere Youth Training Centre in Savusavu got awards for completing his Certificate III in Carpentry.

The third eldest of five siblings received Best Theory Student of the Year award, Best Practical Student of the Year and Best Student of the Junior Carpenter

Surprised to get the most awards he had only focused on completing his studies because he didn’t want to repeat the past.

“I was on scholarship studying Bachelor in Criminology and Criminal Justice at University of the New South Wales in Australia in 2019,” Mr Sakealevu said.

“When I heard about my grandmother’s death, I didn’t have the courage to continue studying and returned to Fiji in 2021.”

Since then till early this year the Savusavu lad was just loitering around.

When he heard about the Ministry of Youth offering carpentry courses, he decided to give it a go.

“During my break time in Australia I used to work for a construction company as a carpenter and so this time I thought about getting a proper qualification and then return to complete my study and work at the same time the right way,” he said.

“My advise to people who are thinking of studying, but delaying it to make a stand for themselves.”

The former student of Marist Brother High School said age was a serious factor.

“If you have to complete your education, make a decision to get it done because it will be only you alone who will suffer later,” he said.

“Nowadays young people should have some kind of qualification in hand.”

Yesterday, 25 students graduated with Certificate III in Carpentry and 30 with Certificate IV in Organic Agriculture.

Feedback: shratikan@fijisun.com.fj