Grandma Emotional Over Granddaughter’s Success

It was an emotional day yesterday for Ram Raji, 70, as she crossed off her bucket list of watching her granddaughter graduate.

Shruti Shama, 24, was all smiles after she graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery de­gree during the Fiji National University’s (FNU) College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS) graduation ceremony at the Vodafone Arena in Suva yes­terday.

Coming from Ba Town, Ms Shama pinched her hand twice to realise her reality.

“I had the greatest family support during my medical journey, and today was no different. It feels so unreal,” she said.

Ms Shama said having her grandparents at her gradua­tion was a proud moment.

“Since I’m her favourite out of her two granddaughters, she always wished to see me graduate before she passes. Today, I saw her crying, and that broke me because I know I made her proud,” she said.

“It wasn’t easy trying to get her from Labasa, especially when she’s sickly and in a wheelchair. I am grateful to the university staff for facil­itating a place for her to sit and witness my graduation. We thought it would be a has­sle, but they came through for us, so a great memory to take with me.”

During her six years of study, Ms Shama said every­thing was always a new expe­rience for her.

“It took time for me to make friends. Along with the pres­sure of the studies and the new environment, with my level of focus and family sup­port, I believe I came and did what I needed to do. Today (yesterday), I reaped what I sowed,” she said.

Ms Shama was accompa­nied by her parents, who came from Ba, and her grandparents, who flew in from Labasa.

“From here onwards, I only plan to get the experience I need and move up the ladder of success.”

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