From poverty to a degree holder

Memories of tough childhood days crossed Telitha Tuise's mind as she received her Bachelor of Commerce in Hotel Man­agement during the University of the South Pacific graduation ceremony on Friday.

She carried the story of struggle, sacrifice and an unshakable determi­nation to rise above those hardships growing up.

Being the only girl in a family of six siblings, Ms Tuise grew up in poverty.

Her father worked irregular jobs in construction, and her mother relied on farming and occasional social wel­fare assistance to support the family.

To make ends meet, Ms Tuise and her siblings often collected bottles, cans, and scrap metal to sell for basic necessities.

"Food to eat like cassava, dalo, rour­ou came from the farm," she recalled. "The little money we made was only for things like salt, oil, and mosquito coils."

Despite the financial struggles, she excelled in school.

An anonymous benefactor even stepped in during her primary years to pay her school fees, a gesture she describes as "a bless­ing" that fuelled her determination to continue studying.

By the time she completed Form Sev­en (Year 13), Ms Tuise had surprised even herself by becoming top of her class.

Her parents encouraged her to pur­sue further education, and with the help of a National Toppers Scheme scholarship, she enrolled at USP in 2020.

But, her journey was far from smooth.

At 19, Ms Tuise became a mother.

"I thought I had spoiled the one chance I had," she admitted.

But, with her mother's encourage­ment, she returned to class, sitting exams even while heavily pregnant.

Her challenges deepened when she later gave birth to twins.

Balancing motherhood, studies, and part-time work as a hospital cleaner seemed impossible, but she refused to give up.

"Whatever people said didn't matter. My future was in my own hands," she said.

Even after an emergency caesarean, she sat for her final exam just five days later.

She didn't want all the mid­night study sessions and sacrifices to go to waste.

Her persistence paid off.

During her final year, Ms Tuise secured an in­ternship at Six Senses Fiji on Malolo Island, which turned into a full-time role as a reservations agent.

With her first steady income, she managed to pay her own fees and support her children.

Now, with her degree in hand, Ms Tuise sees her success as a testament to resilience and to the unwavering support of her family; especially her mother.

"She always told me, no matter what, keep pushing," Ms Tuise said with a smile.

Feedback:sosiveta.korobiau@fijisun.com.fj