Friends Reunite After 17 Years

Seventeen years after graduating with diplomas, Marica Meo and Beranadita Maria Veitoyaki reunited at the Fiji National University (FNU) graduation ceremony to receive their Bachelor of Education degrees.

The duo initially met 19 years ago whilst undertaking their Diploma in Education (English and Social Science) studies at the former Fiji Teachers Advanced College, which is now part of FNU’s College of Humanities and Education (CHE).

After graduating in 2004, they were posted to different schools in Fiji. The two were sighted outside the Vodafone Arena reliving their good old days at the Nasinu Campus, which has served as FNU’s main campus since 2010.

“We are delighted to have reconnected 17 years after finishing our studies, and we have exchanged many experiences with each other since then."

In some ways, FNU has provided us with the opportunity to reconnect,” Meo (pictured above left) stated happily.

“We met today for the first time in 17 years since I was in Naiyala and Marica was in Vatukoula. "

We attended our degree classes via Zoom and have been encouraging each other to perform well ever since.”

“Maria is a language teacher at Naiyala Secondary School and I am the Vice-Principal at Nilsen College, so we have accomplished a lot in our teaching careers. We had challenges in our lives, but we overcame them and triumphed against all odds to become who we are today.”

Veitoyaki claimed she felt it was all part of God’s plan to bring us back together and share our passion and love for teaching, including studying at FNU and graduating on a high note.

“We were both young single girls when we first met. Our love and friendship are as strong as they were 17 years ago.”

“I am grateful to FNU and the Ministry of Education, Heritage, and Arts for providing us with the opportunity to study and advance in life.”

The 38-year-old friends acknowledged their supportive families for motivating them during their studies.

“Time management was critical for us since we had to balance life with the family, school, and studies,” they said.

“We had a lot of help from our family members during our studies, and it was because of them that we were able to get our Bachelor’s Degree in Education,” they said.

“We also intend to finish our master’s degrees in the near future, because learning should never cease for anyone.”

Both highlighted that university life is one of the most memorable adventures that any student could have, and that the friends they make along the way are friends for life.

Meo has completed her Postgraduate studies, while Veitoyaki is now pursuing hers. Meo and Veitoyaki were among 242 College of Humanities and Education students who graduated at the FNU’s graduation ceremonies in September.

Source: FNU

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